Poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata Butler (Notodontidae: Lepidoptera) as medicinal insect in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata Butler (Notodontidae: Lepidoptera) as medicinal insect in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version.

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Entomophagy and Entomotherapy are well known in Asia since generations. Unfortunately not much work has been done to document valuable Traditional Medicinal Knowledge about Insects. Pankaj Oudhia is documenting this knowledge since year 1990. The present note “Poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata Butler (Notodontidae: Lepidoptera) as medicinal insect in Chhattisgarh, India.”  is updated version of his previously published online research document available through pankajoudhia.com.

Keywords: Entomophagy; Entomotherapy; Medicinal Insects; Ayurveda; Chhattisgarh;

Poplar (Populus deltoides) is a newly introduced tree species in Chhattisgarh. According to the reference literatures, Populus sp. are deciduous, dioecious trees commonly known as Poplar, Aspen and Cotton wood, chiefly in North temperate zone with some species in sub tropical region. About 10 species of Populus grow naturally in Chhattisgarh. In Chhattisgarh it was introduced by the authorities in the year 1994. It was promoted as timber yielding tree. Its timber is used for Match-splints, artificial limbs, cricket-bats, packing cases, ply woods and pulp. The Poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata is well known pest of this species. When this insect infested on Poplar trees for the first time I collected the different stages of this insect and presented it to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh specialized in use of insects as medicine. As Poplar was new plant for them, initially they hesitated to evaluate its medicinal potential but later when I planted some seedlings at the regions where they visit frequently in search of medicinal herbs they started taking interest in both the Poplar tree and Poplar defoliator. After continuous research, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh found the male and female catkins of poplar useful in treatment of respiratory trouble. In reference literatures Poplar is not mentioned as medicinal tree. The traditional healers of present generation have discovered its new use. Many healers have found the dry leaf powder of Poplar very promising in treatment of Piles (Bavasir) but due to some toxic contents they use it in combination with other herbs. The Poplar defoliator has solved this problem. Now the traditional healers are using the full fed caterpillars of Poplar defoliator in form of dry powder in treatment of Bavasir. They are applying it externally in form of aqueous paste. Opposite to its leaves that are used in combination with other herbs, the healers are using the caterpillars alone. Many healers claimed that in combination with other medicinal herbs, the caterpillars can be used externally in treatment of skin related troubles. They are conducting trials for confirmation. These promising medicinal uses have added the name of Poplar defoliator in the list of medicinal insects. As poplar and poplar defoliator are common in many parts of the world, I am confident that the medicinal uses developed by the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh will be of great help for the researchers and farmers around the world. 

[New comments added on April, 2014:  Through recent surveys in different parts of India I have documented information about over 400 Formulations for Piles in which Clostera is added as important ingredient. In Medicinal Mite Trombidium based Formulations popular among the Traditional Healers of Chhattisgarh and Odisha Clostera is added as secondary, tertiary and nonary ingredients. These Formulations are used internally. In Stereospermum based Formulations it is added as quinary ingredient. These Formulations are used both internally as well as externally. In Eclipta based Formulations it is added as septenary ingredient. In Schleichera based Formulations it is added as senary ingredient. In Famous 5 wild orchids based Formulations of Central India it is added as secret ingredient mostly in form of secondary ingredient. In Medicinal Rice Maharaji based Formulations it is added as octonary ingredient. In Acacia based Formulations used at early stage of disease Clostera is added as quaternary ingredient. In Bombax based Formulations of Maharashtra it is added as nonary ingredient. In Cannabis based Formulations it is added as octonary ingredient.

Clostera collected from Poplar is also used for many other diseases. I found it as secret ingredient in Formulations of Haridwar. These Formulations are used by Yogis for treatment of Vitiligo. These Formulations are used both internally as well as externally but internal use is preferred. From the Healers and herb vendors of Punjab I got information about Phalaris based Formulations for blood related diseases in which Clostera is added as secret ingredient. In Careya based Formulations of Chhattisgarh it is added as secondary ingredient. These Formulations require judicious use as the ingredients are considered toxic in nature. These Formulations are used to treat the wound of poisonous arrows. For information on complete Formulations and dosage please visit pankajoudhia.com.]

Thank you very much for reading the article.

Related References

Oudhia, Pankaj and Thakur, B.S. (1996). New record of the leaf beetle on a weed. Current Research 25: 218.

Oudhia, P. (1997) Evaluation of host specificity of Blumea leaf beetle (Chrysolina sp. nr. madrasae Jackoby). Insect Environment. 3 (3): 80.

Oudhia, P. and Ganguali, R.N. (1998). Is Lantana camara responsible for Sal-borer infesttation in M.P.? Insect Environment. 4 (1): 5.

Oudhia, P. (1998). Medicinal insects and spiders. Insect Environment. 4(2): 57-58

Banwarilal and Oudhia P. (1999). Beneficial effects of Allelopathy: I . Crop Production.Indian J. Weed Sci. 31(1&2): 103-105

Oudhia, P. (1999) Effect of some botanicals on hatchability of Blumea leaf beetle eggs. Insect Environment. 4(4): 154

Oudhia, P. (1999). Studies on Allelopathy and medicinal weeds in chickpea fields. International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter (ICRISAT) 6: 29-33.

Oudhia, P. (1999) Blumea leaf beetle in Chhattisgarh Plains. Insect Environment. 5 (1): 22.

Oudhia, P. and Ganguli, J. (1999). Outbreak of Tortoise beetle Aspidomorpha miliaris F. (Coleoptera ; Chrysomelidae) in Chhattisgarh plains. Insect Environment 5(3): 110-111.

Oudhia, P. (1999). Effects of Total Solar Eclipse on activities of some insects and mites. Insect Environment 5(3): 113-114.

Oudhia, P. (1999). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Red velvet mite Trombidium sp. (Acari : Trombidiidae) in Chhattisgarh. Insect Environment 5(3): 113.

Oudhia P., Pandey N. and Tripathi R.S. (1999). Allelopathic effects of obnoxious weeds on germination and seedling vigour of hybrid rice. Internaitonal Rice Research Notes (IRRI). 24(2) : 36.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Ganguli RN & Tripathi RS (1999) Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) infestation in hybrid rice as affected by agronomical practices. Insect Environment 4: 123–124.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Tripathi RS & Ganguli RN (1999) Effect of nitrogen and water management practices on gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) infestation in hybrid rice. Insect Environment 4: 119–120.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Tripathi RS & Ganguli RN (1999) Reaction of hybrid rice varieties to gall midge (Orseolia oryzae).. Insect Environment 4 (4): 134.

Oudhia P, Pandey N, Tripathi RS & Ganguli RN (1999) Effect of different fertility levels on the gall midge (Orseolia oryzae) infestation.. Insect Environment 4 (3): 66-67.

Gupta A., Thakur M.P. and Oudhia P.(2000). Effects of different Homoeopathic drugs prepared from common weeds on radial growth of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus membranaceus) under in vitro condition. Research on Crops 1(2):255-257.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Studies on host specificity and preference of the metallic coloured Tortoise beetle (Aspidomorpha miliaris F.) Ecol. Env. And Cons. 6(3):357-359.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Effects of leaf extracts on Metallic Coloured Tortoise beetle Aspidomorpha miliaris F. Insect Environment 5(4): 165.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Toxic effects of Parthenium leaf extracts on Aspidomorpha miliaris F. and Zonabris pustulata Thunb. Insect Environment 5(4): 168.

Oudhia, P. and Ganguli, R. N. (1999) Chrysolina madrassae: A potential bio-control agent for Blumea lacera. VIII Biennial Conference of Indian Society of Weed Science held at BHU, Varanasi 5-7 Feb. p 134.

Oudhia,P. (2000).Evaluation of some botanicals against orange banded blister beetle(Zonabris pustulata Thunb.).Crop Research 20(3):558-559

Oudhia,P.(2000).Record of Orange Banded Blister Beetle Zonabris pustulata Thunb.(Coleoptera: Meloidae) on Safed Moosli(Chlorophytum borivilianum).Insect Environment.6(3):138

Oudhia,P.(2000).Effect of some leaf leachates on hatchability of Blumea leaf beetle(Chrysolina madrasae Jackoby) Eggs.Indian J. Weed Sci. 32(3&4):206-207.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Traditional medicinal knowledge about green leaf hopper, Nephotettix spp. in Chhattisgarh (India). International Rice Research Notes.25 (3):40

Oudhia, P. (2000). Common housefly Musca nebulo Wiedemann (Diptera: Muscidae) as medicinal insect in Chattisgarh. Insect Environment. 6(1):36-37.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Germination and seedling vigour of kodomillet as affected by Allelopathy of Ipomoea carnea Jacq..Indian J. Plant Physiol. 5(4) NS :383-384.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Parthenium hysterophorus : a new weed in upland rice fields of the Chattisgarh Plains(India).International Rice Research Notes (IRRN).25.1:34.

Oudhia, P. (2000). Positive (inhibitory) Allelopathic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus leaves on germination and seedling vigour of sunflower.Crop Research 20(3):560-562.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera in Chhattisgarh, India. International Chickpea and Pigeonpea Newsletter.8:14-15.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Allelopathic research on chickpea seeds in Chattisgarh (India) region: An overview. Ecol. Env. and Cons.7(1):31-34.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Stimulatory Allelopathy of Ageratum conyzoides L. on soybean.Agri. Sci. Digest. v.21(1):55-56.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Medicinal insects of Kharif crops and weeds of Chattisgarh (India). VII National Science Conference, Bharitya Krishi Anusandhan Samitee, Directorate of Cropping System Research, Meerut, India, 12-14 April.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Record of Aphis craccivora Koch.(Hemiptera: Aphididae) on medicinal crop Mucuna pruriens L. in Chhattigarh (India). Insect Environment. 7(1):24.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Bed Bug Cimex lectularius L.(Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in Chhattisgarh (India). Insect Environment. 7(1):23.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Phyllotreta crucifera Goeze: A new pest of medicinal crop Lepidium sativum L. in Chhattisgarh (India).In: Souvenir cum Abstracts. National Research Seminar on Herbal Conservation, Cultivation, Marketing and Utilization with Special Emphasis on Chhattisgarh, ‘The Herbal State’. Srishti Herbal Academy and Research Institute (SHARI) and Chhattisgarh Minor Forest Produce (Trading & Dev.) Co-operative Fedration Ltd., Raipur (India), 13-14 December, 2001. p.74.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Improved cultivation practices for medicinal crops: glimpses of research of farmers' fields in Chhattisgarh (India).In: Oudhia P, editor. Souvenir-cum-abstracts. National Research Seminar on Herbal Conservation, Cultivation, Marketing and Utilization with Special Emphasis on Chhattisgarh, The Herbal State, Srishti Herbal Academy and Research Institute (SHARI), 13-14 December 2001. p 44.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Evaluation of Allelopathic effects of some fruit tree leaf extracts on emergence and seedling vigour of Lathyrus var.Biol-212.Legume Res. 24(3):207-208.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Germination and seedling vigour of wheat as affected by allelopathy of some obnoxious weed.Agric.Sci.Digest. 21(4):275-276.

Oudhia, P. (2001). Phyto-sociological studies of rainy season wasteland weeds with special reference to Parthenium hysterophorus L. in Raipur (India) district. Asian Jr. of Microbiol. Biotech & Env. Sc.3(1-2):89-92.

Oudhia, P. (2001). My experiences with world’s top ten Indian medicinal plants: Glimpses of research at farmer’s field in Chhattisgarh (India).In: Abstract. Workshop cum Seminar on Sustainable Agriculture for 21st Century, IGAU, Raipur, India, 20-21 Jan.

Oudhia, P. (2002). Traditional medicinal knowledge about common insects and mites in India. Eco. Env and Consv. 8(4):339-340.

Oudhia, P. (2002). Rice-Acorus intercropping: a new system developed by innovative farmers of Chhattisgarh (India).International Rice Research Notes. Notes. 27 (1):56.

Oudhia, P. (2002). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Red Ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Chattisgarh, India. Insect Environment.8(3):114-115.

Oudhia, P. (2002). Traditional medicinal knowledge about Fireflies, Photuris sp.(Coleoptera : Lampyridae)in Chhattisgarh (India). Insect Environment, Vol.8 (1):25

Oudhia, P. (2005). Traditional Knowledge about medicinal insects and mites in Chhattisgarh, India: An overview. International Conference on “Promotion and Development of Botanicals with International Coordination: Exploring quality, safety, efficacy and regulations”. February 25- 26, 2005 Supported by: Drug Information Association, USA Secretariat: School of Natural Product Studies Jadavpur university, Kolkata 700032.)

Costa-Neto, E. M. (2005). Entomotherapy, or the medicinal use of insects.Journal of Ethnobiology, 25(1), 93-114.

Oudhia, P., 2007. Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands

Oudhia, P., 2007. Agave americana L. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Oudhia, P., 2007. Cordia myxa L. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. . Accessed 27 April 2014.

Senthilkumar, N., Barthakur, N. D., & Rao, M. L. (2008). Bioprospecting with Reference to Medicinal Insects and Tribes in India: an Overview. Indian Forester, 134(12), 1575-1591.

Oudhia, P., 2008. Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Oudhia, P., 2008. Phyllanthus fraternus G.L.Webster. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes médicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Oudhia, Pankaj and Paull Robert E. (2008). Monkey Jack Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Moraceae p485-487. Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull -editors, CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom

Oudhia, Pankaj and Paull Robert E. (2008). Butter tree Madhuca latifolia Roxb. Sapotaceae p827-828. Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull -editors, CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom

Oudhia, Pankaj and Paull Robert E. (2008). Chironji Buchanania lanzan Spreng. Anacardiaceae p14-15. Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull -editors, CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom

Oudhia, Pankaj and Paull Robert E. (2008). West Indian Almond Terminalia catappa L. Combretaceae. p273-276.. Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts - 2008, J. Janick and R. E. Paull -editors, CABI,Wallingford, United Kingdom

Kumari, B., & Kumar, S. (2009). An insight into the ethnozoology of Panch Pargana area of Jharkand, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 1(8), 441-443.

Dossey, A. T. (2010). Insects and their chemical weaponry: New potential for drug discovery. Natural product reports, 27(12), 1737-1757.

Horgan, F. G., & Crisol, E. (2013). Hybrid rice and insect herbivores in Asia. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 148(1), 1-19.

Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2014). Poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata Butler (Notodontidae: Lepidoptera) as medicinal insect in Chhattisgarh, India. Updated Version. pankajoudhia.com