Dilani Hettiarachchi

• PhD
• Lecturer at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Purpose: Limited information is available on Fall Armyworm (FAW) and its agricultural burden in Sri Lanka. This is the first study conducted aimed at evaluating the level of economic damage caused by FAW in maize fields in the Anuradhapura district during the Maha season 2019-2020, along with the economic impacts on small-scale farmers. Research Me...

Scale insects are phytophagous arthropods of order Hemiptera, found worldwide and including about 6000 species belonging to 21 families. Scale insects produce honeydew that serves as the food for ants. Even though the scale insects have been identified, the diversity of plants and ants that they are associated with is poorly studied in this country...

BACKGROUND Predicting the host range of biocontrol agents is important for the safe and effective implementation of biocontrol of weeds. In this study, we examined the phylogenetic pattern of host selection and acceptance by the biocontrol beetle, Cassida rubiginosa. The beetle was released in New Zealand for control of Cirsium arvense, its primary...

The fall armyworm (FAW) or ‘sena dalambuwa’ was first recorded in Sri Lanka in 2018, and very few research works were reported on its status in the country. In the 2019/20 Maha season in Anuradhapura district, this investigation was conducted in five selected small-scale maize farms. The objective of the study is to identify the economic damage cau...

Poster presented in the "34th International Symposium of Chemical Ecology” which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from the 12th to 18th of August, 2018.

The folivorous beetle Cassida rubiginosa was introduced to New Zealand to control the weed, Californian thistle (Cirsium arvense). Although Californian thistle is the primary host, many other thistles are accepted hosts. The objective of this study was to test if the beetle can reduce the fitness of marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre). A potted plant...

The sterile hybrid grass Miscanthus x giganteus (Mxg) can produce more than 30 t dry matter/ha/year. This biomass has a range of uses, including animal bedding and a source of heating fuel. The grass provides a wide range of other ecosystem services (ES), including shelter for crops and livestock, a refuge for beneficial arthropods, reptiles and ea...

Californian thistle (Cirsium arvense), is considered a noxious weed throughout the world which interferes with both the pastoral production and arable cropping in New Zealand. After several introductions of biocontrol agents, Cassida rubiginosa (Chrysomelidae) has been found to be successful in controlling C. arvense. This study, which is part of m...