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Bihar hairy caterpillar or Spilosoma obliqua

Code: Moth Caterpillar life
Skills: Moth Caterpillar life
Client:STSL
Website: www.savetreesavelife.org

Project Description

The Bihar hairy caterpillar (also known as the jute hairy caterpillar or scientifically as Spilosoma obliqua) is a moth belonging to the family Erebidae. Here are some interesting details about this fascinating insect:

Distribution: The Spilosoma obliqua moth is found in several countries in South Asia, including south-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Description:
- Caterpillar: The caterpillar has a black head, tufts of black hairs behind it, and similar tufts of yellow hairs on the remaining portion of its body.
- Adult Moth: The adult moth has a wingspan of about 23 mm (0.9 inches). Its wings are a pale brown color with a pattern of small black specks, and the abdomen is red.
Host Plants:
- Polyphagous Feeder: The Bihar hairy caterpillar is polyphagous, meaning it feeds on a wide variety of plants.
- It consumes at least 126 species of plants, including pulses, cereals, vegetables, oilseeds, mulberry, turmeric, and various fiber crops such as jute, roselle, ramie, and sunn hemp. It also targets non-cultivated plants and weeds.
- In India, this insect is a serious pest of fiber crops, sometimes causing epidemic outbreaks. Jute crops, in particular, suffer yield reductions of up to 30%, with nalta jute being more susceptible than white jute.
Ecology:
- Egg Laying: Each female lays up to 1000 eggs on the undersides of leaves in several batches.
- Larval Behavior: After hatching, the larvae initially scrape the undersurface of the leaf. As they grow, they feed on the edges of the leaves, creating a net-like appearance.
- Defoliation: When sufficiently numerous, these caterpillars may defoliate the plant, causing damage.
- Natural Enemies: Several natural enemies prey on these caterpillars. For instance, in Indian jute crops, the braconid wasp Protapanteles obliquae lays its eggs in the first instar caterpillar. By the second or third instar, the wasp larvae emerge, forming small, woolly, white chrysalises. At this point, the caterpillar is either moribund or dead.
Control Measures:
- Synthetic Insecticides: The indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides has not been satisfactory due to resistance among the target population and environmental damage.
- Natural Enemies: While there are natural enemies, they are often insufficient for effective control