The caterpillar is a serious pest that attacks more than 30 crops. The larva bores into the trunk or branches about 15–25 cm deep. The tunnel created is empty in the day time, but is filled with caterpillar during the night. It damages the bark of the tree resulting in dieback of the stem.
Frass is visible in affected areas. Crops that are readily attacked by the pest are:
Albizia lebbeck,
Albizia procera,
Anacardium occidentale,
Camellia sinensis,
Cassia fistula,
Chloroxylon swietenia,
Citrus reticulata,
Citrus sinensis,
Citrus ×
paradisi,
Corymbia citriodora,
Eriobotrya japonica,
Eucalyptus camaldulensis,
Falcataria moluccana,
Ficus benghalensis,
Ficus carica,
Gmelina arborea,
Grewia asiatica,
Hevea brasiliensis,
Litchi chinensis,
Mangifera indica,
Manilkara zapota,
Mimusops elengi,
Mitragyna parvifolia,
Moringa oleifera,
Morus alba,
Phyllanthus emblica,
Populus deltoides,
Prunus armeniaca,
Psidium guajava,
Punica granatum,
Sesbania cannabina,
Syzygium cumini,
Tectona grandis,
Terminalia arjuna,
Theobroma cacao, and
Ziziphus mauritiana. Clones of
Casuarina are known to show tolerance and resistance to caterpillars. ==References==