Tea looper

Systematic position. The genus Buzura (most notably Buzura suppressaria) belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Geometridae. These insects are recognized as major defoliating pests in tea-growing regions, where they can cause rapid and severe economic losses if not managed appropriately.

Host plants and damage. The primary host is the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). Larvae feed voraciously on the foliage, initially skeletonizing leaves and eventually consuming entire leaves, including the petioles. The rapid defoliation reduces the plant's capacity to synthesize energy, leading to a significant drop in leaf production and overall plant health.

Biology and life cycle. The life cycle consists of four distinct stages: egg, larva (looper caterpillar), pupa, and adult (moth). Females deposit eggs in clusters on bark crevices or leaf undersides. Upon hatching, the larvae exhibit the classic "looping" gait. The pupal stage typically occurs in the soil, which serves as a protective reservoir during unfavorable seasonal conditions.

Economic impact. The infestation potential of Buzura is high due to its rapid generation turnover. Severe outbreaks can strip an entire plantation of its foliage in a matter of weeks. The resulting stress to the shrubs often leads to stunted growth, reduced flushing, and vulnerability to secondary diseases, necessitating costly long-term recovery efforts for the plantation.

Management strategies. Effective control requires an integrated approach:

• Deployment of light traps and pheromone traps to monitor adult moth populations and timing.
• Manual removal and destruction of egg masses during routine plantation maintenance and pruning.
• Application of microbial control agents, such as Bacillus thuringiensis or specific baculoviruses, which target the larval stages while preserving beneficial insects.
• Judicious use of selective chemical insecticides only when populations exceed established threshold levels.
• Enhancement of natural biological control through the conservation of predators and parasitoids that naturally regulate looper numbers.