author(s)
MV Dabhi and NA Bhatt

abstract
An investigation based on monitoring of the ornamental crop for the occurrence of invasive alien insect pest was carried out followed by roving survey in the year 2018 at S. M. Polytechnic in Agriculture, BACA, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat). A first-time incidence of Parotis marginata (Hampson) [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae] was noticed on Tagar, Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae). The incidence of larva/leaf observed during the survey which showed more than 90 per cent damage and failure to the further growth. The mini tagar as well as regular tagar shrubs were affected by this pest which showed cent per cent leaf damage with one larva in each folded leaf per plant. The heavy infestation to almost all the affected leaves which showed dried and scorching burning effect that leads to accidental fire and death of the plant, if not treated with chemicals.