Report of Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Spodoptera litura on water lily (Nymphaea nouchali Burm.) in Karnataka

This report highlights a significant damage of S. litura on water lilies in Shivamogga, marking an emerging threat to ornamental aquatic plants. The pest’s aggressive feeding behavior across larval stages leads to severe foliar and floral damage. Timely monitoring and integrated pest management strategies are essential to mitigate its impact and protect horticultural biodiversity. In addition to their ornamental value, hold substantial cultural, nutritional, and medicinal importance in India. Lotus is cultivated across various regions—particularly in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Manipur—for its edible stems, seeds, and rhizomes. Lotus seeds, commonly known as makhana are highly nutritious and increasingly valued for their health benefits. Their rising demand in wellness and functional food markets underscores the economic significance of lotus cultivation. Pest outbreaks on such species therefore pose not only aesthetic but also agro-economic concerns.