The genus Cinnamomum

Pests and Diseases of Cinnamon and Cassia 243
Figure 10.1 Young leaf of cinnamon damaged by cinnamon butterfly (Chilasa clytia) along with larva.
adversely affect plant growth. Infestation is more severe during December–June when
numerous tender flushes are present on the plants.
The adults are large-sized butterflies with a wingspan of 90 mm and occur in two
forms in the field, namely clytia and dissimilis. The form clytia mimics Euploea sp. where
the wings are blackish brown with a series of marginal white arrowhead-shaped spots.
The form dissimilis mimics Danais sp. and has wings that are black with elongated
white spots and a series of marginal arrowhead-shaped spots.
Adults lay eggs singly on tender leaves and shoots. The incubation period lasts for
three to four and three to five days in India (at Kasaragod) and Sri Lanka (at Motara),
respectively. Newly hatched larvae are pale green with a pale yellow dorsal line and
irregular white stripes. Fully grown larvae are dark brown and yellow with four rows of
red spots and measure 25 mm in length. The larval period, comprising of five instars,
is completed in 11–17 days in India and 12–18 days in Sri Lanka. The pre-pupal stage
lasts for one day. The pupa is brownish black, elongated and is attached to the stem of
the host plant with silken supports at the posterior end. The pupal period lasts for
11–13 days in India and 11–14 days in Sri Lanka. The total life cycle is completed in
24–36 days in India and 25–37 days in Sri Lanka (Singh et al., 1978; Rajapakse and
Kulasekara, 1982). The eggs of the cinnamon butterfly are parasitised by Telenomus
remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in the field and over 50% of eggs collected at
Kasaragod, India, during December–June were parasitised (Singh et al., 1978).