Mulberry Semilooper, Hemerophilla Atrilineata Butler (Lepidoptera: Geometriidae): An emerging pest of Mulberry in Kashmir

Mulberry semilooper, Hemerophilla atrilineata Butler (Lepidoptera: Geometriidae) which was earlier a minor insect pest of Mulberry in Kashmir is now emerging as a major pest. In this relevance basic information on its occurrence, biology, damage symptoms and severity has been recorded during 2009 cropping season. Field survey on the seasonal occurrence of H. atrilineata under temperate agro-climatic region of Kashmir valley revealed that the infestation started from second fortnight of July and continued through first fortnight of October and it ranged from 0.01% to 12.62%. The peak infestation was noticed at the end of the season. The present study reveals that the pest is distributed in most parts of the valley, except southern part. Semilooper infestation on bush and tree plantations of Mulberry ranged from 0.20 to 11.88%. Pest infestation in tree plantation is delayed by about a month in comparison to bush plantation. Of the five varieties of Mulberry observed, Goshoerami recorded maximum infestation by semilooper, followed by Chinese white. The percent damage index however, was least with Goshoerami. The studies revealed that the early instar larvae of H. atrilineata makes pin holes in the Mulberry leaves and completely defoliates the Mulberry plants at the later stages. Under field conditions, the pest is active between July to October and completes two generations in between. With the availability of new flush of Mulberry leaf in last week of June, emergence of adult was also observed.