Abstract: Ectropis grisescens Warren was one of the major pests of tea plant， which widely distributed in China. The morphological characteristics， life history， life habit and population life table of E. grisescens were investigated in this paper based on field investigation and laboratory observation. Results showed that E. grisescens occurred 6-7 generations per year in Xinchang， Zhejiang province. The first generation of larvae occurred from late March to late April， and others occurred monthly. The pupae gradually began to overwinter in rhizosphere soil of tea from mid to late October and feathered in midMarch of the following year. The larvae had 4-5 instars. The total amount of food consumption was 7362 mg per larva on average， and 9601% was eaten by instar from 3rd to the last. The food consumption of larvae exponentially increased from 1st to last instar， and the exponential curve between food consumption（y） and larva instar（x） was y = 1.012e1.5857x. Under the condition of laboratory， the number of eggs was 2910 per female. The survival rates of each stage of E. grisescens were as follows. eggs， 93.8%; 1st -3rd instar larvae， 98.6%; 4th -5th instar larvae， 98.6%; prepupae， 98.6%; pupae， 82.2%; and adults， 92.0%. The F1 generation sex ratio （♀∶♂） was 1∶0.85， and the population trend index was 98.9.

Key words: Ectropis grisescens Warren, morphological characteristics, life history, life habit, population life table