Indian Journal of Entomology

Hyposidra talaca (Walker) is a major defoliating pest of tea in Dooars and Terai region in North Bengal in North East India. Activities of this looper had greatly increased and presently it is endemic to many gardens in Assam. Biology of this when studied it was observed that there are five instars, and 1^st and 2^nd instar eat small holes in buds and along the margins of young leaves and then cut off small pieces at the margins. The full grown caterpillars fed voraciously on the mature leaves. The presence of a large number of alternative hosts including forest trees, shade trees and weeds appears to attract this on tea in Assam.