Gangara thyrsis (Fabricius)

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae

Common name

Coconut skipper

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Primary hosts are coconut and other palms (Palmae). Also recorded on Saccharum officinarum from India.

Typical damage symptoms include individual leaflets of seedlings or young palms rolled into spiral tubes distally and the tubes harbouring cream coloured robust caterpillars having a constricted neck and red marking, concealed by long, prominent waxy filaments; greenish brown pupa with white bloom inside the tube makes rattling sound by its vibration when disturbed.

Pest status

Minor.

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