Abstract

An understanding of the fluctuations of insect populations in the relatively constant forest environment facilitates a better insight into the influence of host plants on the dynamics of insect populations. Most information on the dynamics of forest insect populations have come from studies in temperate forests. Our knowledge of the cause-effect relationships of forest insect outbreaks in tropical climates is very meagre. Based on studies of temperate forest insects a consensus is now beginning to emerge that forest insect outbreaks are associated with site and stand conditions that put trees under stress (Mattson and Addy 1975) . The dynamics of insect populations display such wide variability in patterns and process over time and space that generalisations are only of limited value in practical problem-solving. In India particularly, we need to move swiftly from qualitative studies into quantitative analysis of population change. These studies call for a new generation of