Crops > Trees, palms & pandanus > Trees > Pisonia > Pisonia, Hippotion ?velox, Maldives
Crops Trees, palms & pandanus Trees Pisonia Pisonia, Hippotion ?velox, Maldives
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| June 2005. A protected island in the Maldives has a dense vegetation of Pisonia grandis (Bird catcher tree/Lettuce tree) which is a nesting place for birds. Recently, the vegetation of the island is been damaged by a caterpillar. On inspection of the island, two types of caterpillar was found. As a result, bird-nesting has been reduced by about 90%. What is the identity of the caterpillar, and how can it be controlled.
A species of Hippotion or Gnathothlibus was thought likely. The caterpillar is similar to Hippotion velox, which is found on Pisonia grandis on a atoll in the Cook Islands.
Bt might be an option for controlling the outbreak.
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