The genus Cinnamomum

10 Pests and Diseases of Cinnamon
and Cassia
M. Anandaraj and S. Devasahayam
Introduction
Cinnamon is reported to be infested by over 70 species of insect pests, especially in India
and Sri Lanka. However, very little authentic information is available on the insect pests
of cassia cinnamons (C. burmannii, C. tamala and C. cassia). Some information on the
insect pests of cinnamon is offered by Singh et al. (1978), Rajapakse and Kulasekara
(1982), Butani (1983), Kumaresan et al. (1988) and Premkumar et al. (1994). From
Indonesia, Wikardi and Wahyono (1991) reviewed the insect pests and natural enemies
of cinnamon and cassia. One of the most destructive of plant pathogens, Phytophthora,
was first recorded on cinnamon (Rands, 1922). However information on diseases affecting
this crop is few and scanty. The antimicrobial properties of essential oils present in
cinnamon could be one of the reasons for fewer diseases recorded on this plant (Chandra
et al., 1982; Khanna et al., 1988; Hili et al., 1997; Baratta et al., 1998). However, many
of fungi have been recorded on dried and stored cinnamon (Balagopal et al., 1973). The
insect pests and diseases recorded on cinnamon and cassia are discussed in this chapter
(see also Chapters 6 and 7 for the pests and diseases of Chinese and Indonesian cassias).
Insect Pests
Major insect pests of cinnamon include foliage feeders such as the cinnamon butterfly
(Chilasa clytia L.), shoot and leaf webber (Sorolopha archimedias Meyr.), leaf miner
(Conopomorpha civica Meyr.) and chafer beetle (Popillia complanata Newman) in India; and
jumping plant louse (Trioza cinnamomi Boselli), cinnamon butterfly (C. clytia), cinnamon
blue bottle (Graphium sarpedon Felder) and leaf webber (Orthaga vitalis Walk.) in
Sri Lanka. Minor insect pests belong to diverse groups and are mostly foliage feeders;
some are capable of causing severe damage to the crop in various locations. Major insect
pests of cassia in India include the cinnamon butterfly (C. clytia) and leaf miner (C. civica).
Information available on the distribution, nature of damage and life cycle of major
insect pests of cinnamon and cassia are reviewed here. The minor insect pests of these
crops (along with major insect pests) have been tabulated (Tables 10.1 and 10.2).
Major insect pests
Cinnamon butterfly (Chilasa clytia)
The cinnamon butterfly is the most serious pest of cinnamon and Chinese cassia, being
widely prevalent in India and Sri Lanka. Larvae of the pest feed voraciously on tender
and partly mature leaves, leaving only the midrib and portions of veins (Fig. 10.1).
Both young plants in nurseries and plants in plantations are affected by the pest. Young
plants are often completely defoliated by the pest. Heavy infestations of the pest
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