Species Complex of Leaf Roller Infesting Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) In West Bengal with their Seasonal Incidence

An experiment was conducted at Fruit Research Station, Mandauri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya with a view to rule out the leaf roller species complex associated with litchi (Litchi chinensis) in West Bengal. The result revealed that three species namely litchi leaf roller, Gatesclarkeana sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); leaf webber, Dudua aprobola Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae); litchi leaf roller, Statherotis leucaspis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were associated with the crop and hence their seasonal incidence and interaction with abiotic factors have also been studied. Among the species Gatesclarkeana sp. was found least abundant and occasionally observed during fruiting season while Dudua aprobola observed only in copper leaf stage or in soft tender leaves. Statherotis leucaspis was observed as most dominant species in basin of West Bengal which has not yet been reported from the state. The pest remained very active from 26th standard meteorological week and continued upto 47th standard week. Interestingly the same pest was observed during panicle initiation stage to flowering stage, attacking the panicle (maximum 23.75%) which led direct yield loss.