New record of two folivores in Erythrophleum fordii plantations in Vietnam

Two leaf-feeders, Biston suppressaria Guenée, 1858 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and Clanis titan Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) are reported for the first time damaging Erythrophleum fordii (Fabaceae) trees in plantations in Vietnam. Field surveys in Hanoi, Hoa Binh and Bac Giang provinces in 2024 revealed that trees were severely damaged by the folivores. The damage incidence ranged from 11.9 to 17.4% and the damage severity from 6.6 to 9.3% in 4 to 8-year-old trees, and damage was much higher in older stands (65.6 – 98.6% and 50.1 – 88.3%, respectively, in 15 to 16-year-old trees). Further studies are recommended to monitor outbreaks and develop an integrated pest management plan for these pests.