Abstract

Indarbela quadrinotata is a polyphagous wood boring insect, attacking a variety of tree species in India. The host plants of this insect in Kerala include Peltophorum pterocarpum, Delonix regia, Terminalia catappa, Casuarina equisetifolia, Swietenia macrophylla, Macaranga peltata, Anacardium occidentale and Ceiba pentandra. Recently, a large-scale build up of this insect was noticed in some plantations of Paraserianthes falcataria in the southern forest circle, mainly at Punalur where this insect was also found to attack avenue trees of P. pterocarpum, S. macrophylla and D. regia. Field trials using various insecticides showed that spot application of monocrotophos (0. 1), quinalphos (0. 1) and fenvalerate (0. 08) was effective in controlling the pest