INSECT PEST COMPLEX ON OAK TASAR FOOD PLANTS

Manipur is known to be the land of Oaks. Due to salubrious climatic conditions, there is luxuriant growth of different oak. Some of them particularly Quercus serrata and O. dealbata forms the primary source of food and most suitable varieties for rearing of Indian oaktasar silkworm Antheraea proylei J. Keeping the importance of this host plantin view, a systematic survey of the insect pests associated with them, has been done. Fifty - eight insect species belonging to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Homoptera and Hymenoptera have been indentified. Fairly large number of insects of diversified groups have been found to be attacking and damaging Quercus spp. during their different developmental stages. Their occurence has seems to coincide with the rearing season of A. proylei and rendering considerable loss to the host plants.