Screening eucalyptus clones against Leptocybe invasa Fisher and La Salle (hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Eucalyptus species and clones were screened at ITC nursery and plantations for resistance and susceptibility to Eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & LaSalle an invasive gall inducing insect. Eucalyptus tereticornis, E.camaldulensis, E.grandis and their hybrids were severely affected by gall wasp. While, E. alba, E. urophylla, E citriodora and E. torelliana were gall free. As much 92.6 per cent of 135 E. tereticornis clones screened were found infested. Clone No.10 and 27 were highly susceptible as against clone No. 1, 320, 411, 413, 513, 612, 2145, 2253, 2254 and 2306 which were free from galls. Relative resistance to gall was observed in 56 clones. Covering the plants with insect screen could protect plants in the nursery. Though topical application of insecticides along with botanicals did not control the pest, root feeding of plants with Profenophos (0.03%) reduced the number of galls in the affected plants.