Leucinodes orbonalis

Description

Leucinodes orbonalis, the eggplant fruit and shoot borer or brinjal fruit and shoot borer, is a moth species in the genus Leucinodes. It is found throughout the tropics in Asia and Africa and is a minor pest in the Americas. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1854. The length of the forewings is 8.5–10.5 mm for males and 9.5–12 mm for females. The forewing ground colour is white, with a light- to dark-brown basal area, delimited by a dark-brown to grey antemedial line. The median area has a pale-brown, faint proximal discoidal stigma. The distal discoidal stigma is pale brown, reaching from the costa to the forewing centre. The central dorsum has a prominent orange to dark brown L-shaped or triangular spot leading to the forewing centre and often meeting with the distal discoidal stigma. The antemedial line is sinuate, more or less distinct, but with a prominent subcostal bulge. The subapical half of the termen has a half moon-shaped brown to grey-grown spot. The marginal line is dotted. The hindwing ground colour is white. The internal area is white, with a discoidal spot, basicostally often with an auxiliary spot. The medial line is sinuate, the distal half approaching the discoidal spot, then turning towards the dorsum. The external area is pale brown to grey with a dotted marginal line. Larvae bore inside eggplant fruits and feed until they pupate. Fruit feeding is the major cause of damage. The larvae may also bore into tender shoots causing wilting and dieback of the branch terminals. This reduces the fruit-bearing capacity of plant. A genetically modified brinjal, called Bt brinjal, has been developed to fight against L. orbonalis. Several other integrated pest management strategies, for example, sex pheromones, physical and mechanical barriers, cultural practices, use of bio-pesticides and biological agents, botanical pesticides and safer chemical pesticides has been suggested to combat this pest.