Abstract

Two species of insects are well-known pests of the teak tree (Tectona grandis) in India - Hyblaea puera Cramer (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae), popularly known as the teak defoliator, and Eutectona machaeralis (Walker) syn. Pyrausta machaeralis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae), popularly known as the teak skeletonizer. Search for lasting and environmentally acceptable strategies for management of this pest, increasing attention is now being focused on its population dynamics. From the scientific point of view, some unique features of the dynamics of this tropical forest pests promise new insights into the theory of insect population ecology, nurtured thus far mainly by examples from temperate insects. One of the most promising approaches to its management appears to be to attempt to break the synchrony between flushing of teak and spring arrival of moths, by breeding early flushing varieties of teak. Hypothesis for the population dynamics of H. puera suggests that outbreaks in