Assessment of certain plants as alternate hosts of Helopeltis theivora (Hemiptera: Miridae) Waterhouse-A pest of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntge

Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the most prevalent insect pest of Camellia sinensis in north-east India. The insect is polyphagous and the present study has aimed at identifying its secondary host plants for use in its sustainable management strategy. The life table parameters along with the feeding activity of H. theivora were studied on both primary and three selected secondary host plants during 2013 and 2014 for three generations and significant variations were observed between primary and secondary host plants. The feeding lesions were considered as parameter for measuring preference of host plant. The degree of preference for the host plants was Duranta repens>Lawsonia inermis>Cassia tora. The life tables revealed the potentiality of the secondary host plants for use as trap crops for H. theivora.