A lab rearing technique was standardised for Apanteles taragamae Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), the early larval parasitoid of the coconut leafeating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker on the alternate host Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The parasitoid took 23.3 ± 3.2 days to complete the egg to adult period. Adult longevity for males and females was 15.3 ± 4.6 and 13.8 ± 4.6 days respectively. Fecundity was 14.8 ± 4.3 eggs per female. The percentage parasitism was 60.6 ± 5.7 on the alternative host C. cephalonica and 64.6 ± 5.5 on the natural host O. arenosella. Eight-to ten-day-old caterpillars were the ideal stage of C. cephalonica for rearing A. taragamae. The results indicated the amenability of rearing A. taragamae on C. cephalonica in the laboratory.

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Lace bug, Stephanitis typica (D) and the leaf eating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella W. are two common pests in the coconut ecosystem. Lace bug is the vector of root (wilt) disease of coconut as it harbours and transmits the pathogenic “phytoplasma”. Leaf eating caterpillar is an outbreak defoliator pest. During field collection of these insects, it was observed that in some samples there was green colour sporolation on the cadavers of these insects. From such specimens a fungus was isolated and purified. It was identified as Aspergillus and then confirmed as A. flavus Link. In the laboratory, this fungus was tested for pathogenecity on hosts by different methods of spore application. It was observed that 80% S. typica nymphs died within 3 days and 80-90% of the O. arenosella larvae were mycosed within 3-4 days. In this paper, we discuss the above aspects in detail.