The medicinal annual legume Senna (= Cassia) tora (L.) Roxb. and its insect associations in Kerala, India

Abstract

Plant-animal interaction is an important biotic interaction of evolutionary significance in the tropics. Although we have a rich biodiversity, our knowledge of the natural history of species and their biotic interaction is poor. In this study, we highlight the insect community that interacts with an important medicinal herb, Senna tora in Kerala. We have studied the herbivorous insects of the plant and their parasitoids. Thirty four species of insects are identified as major herbivores of S. tora. The parasitoid community recorded comprises of 19 species. The caterpillar of Eurema hecabe was the most dominant herbivore of S. tora and it completes its entire life cycle on the plant. The results of the study indicate that S. tora is a potential plant to be used in habitat management for conservation biological control.