Objective  To explore a means for biocontrol of Ectropis grisescens Warren, one of the most common and serious pests in tea plantations, by intercropping with flowering plants.

  Method  Effects of the flowers of Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene, Chamaecradta nictitans Moench, Cassia bicapsularis L., Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck.) Merr., Ruellia brittoniana Leonard, and Asclepias curassavica L., were compared to those of 5% honey and water on the fecundity and lifespan of adult E. grisescens for the study.

  Result  The flowers of C. rotundifolia, C. nictitans, C. bicapsularis, W. chinensis, and A. curassavica significantly shortened the lifespan and decreased the fecundity of adult female E. grisescens as compared to the exposure of the insects to water or 5% honey. The flowers of R. brittoniana, C. rotundifolia, C. nictitans, and C. bicapsularis significantly reduced the fecundity of adult male E. grisescens in comparison to water, 5% honey or R. brittoniana flower. Among the treatments, the highest oviposition of the adult females was found in contact with water that produced 305.7 eggs per insect on average, and the flowers of A. curassavica allowed the lowest average of 38.3 eggs per female adult. On lifespan, the longest was observed in the insects under the water treatment as well, with an average of 13.68 d for the females and 12.36 d for the males. The flowers of W. chinensis and C. bicapsularis cut the average lifespans of the female and male adults to the shortest of all treatments at 6.56 d for the adult females and 5.60 d for the adult males.

  Conclusion  Utilizing the flowering plants such as C. rotundifolia, C. nictitans, and/or C. bicapsularis to intercrop in tea plantations helped reduce the fitness and reproduction of E. grisescens. It seemed to represent a promising potential for a viable, environmentally friendly biocontrol on the pest in tea plantations.