Opisina arenosella Walker

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae: Xyloryctinae

Common name

Coconut black headed caterpillar

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Coconut, toddy palm, date palm.

Symptoms of damage on coconut include dried, grey coloured leaflets on the lower crown presenting a sickly appearance; affected leaflets showing galleries made of chewed up fibre, frassy material and excreta with pale creamy caterpillar having reddish brown longitudinal stripes and blackish brown head and thorax, retreating into the galleries, on the under surface; green matter of husk in young nuts galleried, premature drying of nuts and occasional exudation of gum from the affected nuts.

Pest status

Major pest, particularly serious during summer months.

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