- Widespread distribution. On mango, other fruit trees, ornamentals, and weeds. Probably important, but several webworms on mango.
- Larvae web together flowers, young fruits and leaves; leaves rolled and larvae feed from inside.
- Eggs on undersides of leaves; larvae yellowish green, with heads and first two pairs of legs black. Adults pale brown with dark markings, up to 20 mm long.
- Natural enemies: not recorded in Pacific islands (but assumed present).
- Cutural control: prune trees giving sprays better access.
- Chemical control: use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis): ensure good coverage of shoots and flowers; treat when larvae small, and when webbing first seen. Avoid pyrethroids and organophosphates: they will kill natural enemies.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Mango flower webworm (334)
Mango flower webworm
Dudua aprobola; previously known as Platypeplus aprobola.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
1Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and (plus Photo 1) Soumya BR et al. (2017) Diversity and economic status of Lepidopteran insect-pest on two major varieties of mango. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 5(3): 838-843. (http://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue3/PartL/5-2-192-716.pdf); and from Dudua aprobola. Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudua_aprobola). Photo 2 Dudua aprobola (Meyrick) (2013). ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources. Photo 3 Gerald McCormack, Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage. (http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.