Insect Pests of <I>Acacia tortilis</I> in India

Abstract

Large scale plantations of Acacia tortilis are being raised in arid zones of India, owing to its suitability for stablizing and dunes and fuelwood and fodler. Very little information is available about the entomology of A. tortilis. The present study shows that, though the plantation of A. tortilis do not have serious insect problems for the present as the species is a recently introduced exotic. But many insects feeding on native acacias have adapted to A. tortilis. Most serious of them are pod and seed insects and timber borers. Among the pod and seed insect Caryedon gonogra may cause even l00% loss to seed crop. Tbe bruchid can be controlled by spraying 0.25% endosulfan/fenitrothion or 0.05/. Monocrotophos/dichlorvus water emulsion. Powder post beetles Sinoxylon anale and S. crassum attack A. tortilis timber within few weeks of its felling and convert it into dust thus rendering it useless as fuelwood. Prophylactic treatment of 1.5% lindane/endosulfan protect the timber from borer attack for nearly a year. Other insect species of minor importance and their control are also given.