Conogethes

Shoot and fruit borer Conogethes spp. (Crambidae: Lepidoptera) 

The fruit and shoot borer Conogethes (Dichocrocis) punctiferalis Guenee commonly known as yellow peach moth, is an important borer pest causing colossal crop losses. Larvae of this crambid moth are typically polyphagous pests attacking more than 120 wild and cultivated diversified plants, viz., peach, chestnut, durian, citrus, papaya, castor, cardamom, ginger, eggplant and maize. It has been reported that this pest cause 63% yield loss in castor and morethan 20% loss in cardamom. Since, Conogethes attacks diverse categories of crops viz., fruits, vegetables, plantation, root and field crops in diversified habitats. With a wide host range,   Conogethes mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical countries including Asia and Australia. A wide range of pest management tools such as cultural, physical, mechanical, biological and chemicals have been deployed to manage Conogethes. Many of them are failed due to the dynamic behavior of the pest. C. punctiferalis is a complex of atleast two spp. A polyphagous form feeds on fruits from number of plant families and oligophagous form feeds on leaves of pinaceae. Species belonging to genus Conogethes are receiving increasing attention because of expanding host range, geographical occupancy and complexity involved in species identification.