PESTS OF MORINGA :: MAJOR PESTS :: LEAF CATERPILLAR

3. Leaf caterpillar: Noorda blitealis (Pyraustidae: Lepidoptera)
Distribution and status: It is a sporadically serious pest of drumstick trees especially in South India.
Host range: Moringa
Damage symptoms: Caterpillars feed on leaf lamina, turning them into transparent parchment like structures. Peak period of infestation is during March to April and December to January.

Noorda blitealis

Bionomics : Adults are medium sized moths. Fore wings are uniformly dark in colour with a small white streak near the base. Hind wings are hyaline with broad black marginal band towards anal side. Eggs are laid in batches usually on ventral surface of leaves. Egg, larval and pupal durations last for 3, 7 to 15 and 6 to 9 days respectively. Pupation in soil.