Incidence and biology of leaf roller, Psorosticha zizyphi (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) on curry leaf, Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel K. DEVAKI 1 , T. MURALIKRISHNA 1 , K. SREEDEVI 2 and A. RAMAKRISHNA RAO 1 1 Regional Agricultural Research Station, ANGRAU, Tirupati  517502, Andhra Pradesh, India 2 Present address: Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110012 Email: devakikayam@gmail.com ABSTRACT : A study was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tirupati, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India during 2008-09 to 2010-11 on the incidence and biology of citrus leaf roller, Psorosticha zizyphi (Stainton, 1859) (Tonica zizyphi) on curry leaf plant (Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel). Psorosticha zizyphi is a small moth that is nocturnal in habit. Adult moth lays flat oval eggs on tender leaves on both upper and lower surface, petioles and twigs. The eggs laid are single and egg period lasts for 5 days. Larval period was 14-16 days with five larval instars. Final larval instar turns to pinkish before pupation and pupal period lasted for 6 days, pupa was brownish in colour, tapering towards anterior end. Adult period varied from 5 to 23 days. Incidence of P. zizyphi on M. koenigii was observed from June to January with new flush and rainfall received during second fortnight of December and January month. Keywords: Biology, Citrus leaf roller, Psorosticha zizyphi, curry leaf INTRODUCTION Psorosticha zizyphi (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) has a wide host range including Ziziphus jujube (Rhamnaceae), Ailanthus excelsa (Simaroubaceae) Citrus lemon, Citrus reticulate, Aegle marmelos, Feronia elephantum (Rutaceae), and Glycomis pentaphylla (Dioscoreaceae) and Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel. Earlier reports indicated that P. zizyphi was a moderate pest on Citrus sinensis and C. aurantifolia (Sreedevi, 2010) in Andhra Pradesh. However, there is no information on incidence of P. zizyphi on curry leaf plant in Andhra Pradesh. Murugan et al. (2003) reported about the incidence of citrus leaf roller on curry leaf in Tamil Nadu and tried Bacillus thuringiensis formulations for its containment. Similarly, severe incidence of P. zizyphi was reported on M. koenigii in Jammu and Kashmir (Tara et al., 2011). In recent years, the incidence of P.zizyphi on M. koenigii was noticed in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in young curry leaf gardens and kitchen gardens of Vadamalapet, Puttur and Tirupati rural mandals, and observed that the intensity of the pest increasing since 2008-09 especially during June to December months. Studies on biology and ecology of P. zizyphi are important in management of the pest. Batra (1989) studied the biology, ecology and management of P. zizyphi in Citrus sp. in Punjab with emphasis on Kinnow mandarins. But the biology of P. zizyphi on M. koenigii was not given attention and is a prerequisite for devising the management strategies. The curry leaf is not only grown in field situation but also in kitchen gardens as it is a perennial plant and can be easily propagated. M. koenigii is an important spice, widely used in Indian cookery for flavouring food stuffs throughout Indian subcontinent and also used in ayurvedic medicines. Studies on incidence of P. zizyphi on M.koenigii from Andhra Pradesh are wanting. Hence, the present study has been taken up to document its incidence and biology on curry leaf. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experiments were carried out at Entomology Laboratory, Centre for Plant Protection, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tirupati, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh during 2008-09 to 2010-2011 to study the incidence of citrus leaf roller, Psorosticha zizyphi on curry leaf plant. The incidence of the pest on curry leaf plants was closely monitored at fortnight intervals on M. koenigii. The plants were kept unsprayed for recording incidence levels. Observations were made by counting total number of compound leaves to damaged leaves from effected twigs. Thirty plants of 3-4 months age were observed for insect incidence which were from June to December. Damaged curry plant leaves rolled longitudinally were also collected from nearby villages of Puttur, Vadamalaet and Tirupati rural mandals (Vidhyanagar) with larval population and brought to the laboratory. The specimens were observed for insect incidence by opening rolled leaves gently, larvae were separated and placed in plastic petriplates by providing new tender leaves without damage. After pupation, they were transferred to clean plates for adult emergence. These adults were released in insect cages with size of Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems, Vol. 18, No. 2 pp 154-157 (2012) 154