IIATHY CATEIJPII.LAES. 



193 



once recognised by 



Fifi. 218. 

 Mofh of Bell a r Hair if Caterpilla 



anyone familiar with the moths ; the moths 

 come to light and are found in 

 houses at night. The species^ 

 fig'ured (fig-. 216) comes out in vast 

 numbers in February or March, 

 flying- in the dusk; other species 

 do the same, and an observer fami- 

 liar with the moths will recognise 

 them and expect a later attack of 

 caterpillars. 



Hairy Caterpillars. 



In many parts of India, large numbers of hairy caterpillars appear 

 at certain seasons and either destroy special 

 crops or move from field to field attacking- 

 almost any crop. These pests appear when 

 conditions are favourable to the emergence of 

 large numbers of the parent moths which 

 lay eggs on crops or on wild plants; if the 

 eggs are abundant, the caterpillars ravage the 

 crops or, after eating their wild food-plants, 

 move into crops and devour them. 



Apparently particular species are destruc- 

 tive in distinct areas ; the hairy caterpillars of 

 Guzerat are distinct from those of Behar and 

 Oudh, and from those found in Madras. Their 17.010 



r IG. ZIy. 



time of appearance varies with climatic con- Moth of Behar KairyCaie,- 

 ditions, but is largely confined to the rains. In piUar. 



Guzerat, they appear 

 chiefly in the early 

 weeks of the rains; 

 the moths hatch out 

 in abundance with 

 the first rains, lay 

 eggs, and the cater- 

 pillars hatch and feed 

 on the youug crops. 

 In Fehar, one brood succeeds another from the end of the cold weather, 

 and this will occur when the conditions are favourable. The life histoiy 



^Affroiis fammatra. (Noctuidse.) 



Fig. 220. 

 Jtde Hairy Caterpillar. {Magnified tn-ice) 



