Spread of red-banded mango caterpillar, Deanolis sublmbalis Snellen (lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Cape York Peninsula, Australia

Abstract

'Deanolis sublimbalis' Snellen (red-banded mango caterpillar) is a serious pest of mango ('Mangifera indica' L.) fruit. In 1990 it was first recorded in Australia in Torres Strait and in 2001 it was detected on the Australian mainland in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Results from annual surveillance conducted from 2001-2007 in the NPA indicated that 'D. sublimbalis' was spreading through natural adult dispersal at an average rate of 7 km/year. This provides the first record of this pest's rate of spread, the understanding of which is necessary in formulating control strategies.