and overseas on

The species population is maintained in the wild on :

green form
(Photo: courtesy of Judy and David Addleton, Kempsey)

The Caterpillars destroy the apical shoot, leading to the formation of side branching, and ultimately, a deformed trunk. It is possible that the Caterpillars prefer to eat the pith in the stem rather than eating the leaves because the plant manufactures chemicals in the leaves that deter phytophagous insects. The species has been investigated by David Spolc at the University of Queensland, J. H. Mo, Fyfe Bygrave, and Saul Cunningham at the Australian National University, Canberra.

shoot damage
(Photo: courtesy of Judy and David Addleton, Kempsey)

The moth is said only to attack trees in the light. Young small trees growing in the understory of a rainforest are not attacked. Young small trees planted as a plantation get more light and so are attacked, making cultivation of the valuable timber tree, the Red Cedar, rather difficult.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult moths are rather dull: brown fore wings and buff hind wings, both with dark veins. The fore wings also have a faint zigzag pattern. The wingspan is about 3 cms. The Pheromones for this species have been determined. Control of the pest is being attempted using :

The species occurs widely in south east Asia A confusingly similar related species occurs in Africa.

Further reading :

C.F.C. Beeson, The life history of the toon shoot and fruit borer, Hypsipyla robusta Moore (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Phycitinae) with suggestions for its control, Indian Forest Records, Volume 7, 1919, pp. 146-216.

Ian F.B. Common, Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 66, 350.

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