Phytophagous insects of the giant sensitive plant (Mimosa invisa) at Ramu, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Fourteen species of insects in 3 orders and 9 families mainly lepidopterans were collected on Mimosa invisa at Ramu. The pierid, Eurema hecabe L. was the most abundant followed by the lymantriid, Euproctis sp. nr. trispila Turner. However, damage to M. invisa was minor, and there appeared to be no competitor with the introduced biological control agent, Heteropsylla spinulosa Muddiman, Hodkinson & Hollis (Psyllidae), for feeding sites.