CHAP. Xlll.\ i \ I ERPILL \K PES (PS. 1 35 



means oi a - Poison when found feeding on crops, but, as 



in all pest-, foresighted prevention is the best remedy. 



The 1 .oopers and Semi-Ioopers already mentioned belong to this 

 group .ind the latter include Achaa (Ophiusa) melicerta whose greyish 

 caterpillar is a common pest of Castor; it is best controlled by 

 hand-picking in tin- early stages <>t an attack. 



The Hairj Caterpillars 01 "Woolly Hears" are well known in 

 Southern India under the names of " Kuniblihula " or " k'umbli- 

 puchi," terms which are applied loosely and indiffen 

 very different species, rhose ot th< gi ttest economic importance 

 are the larva- of several of the Arctiada (Amsacta spp, Estigmene 

 lactinea and Utetheisa pulchella), most of which feed rathei indiffer- 

 entlj on almost any low-growing crop, although Utetheisa is a 

 spe< ifi< pest of Sann-Hemp. 



In the case of the species of Amsacta, which are often very 

 destructive to crops especially in North and South Arcot, the moths 

 generally emerge from the pupa] state after the first heavy showers 

 of rain received in July-August and there may be two or three 

 'ion-, before tin- end of the year, the pupae remaining in the 

 soil from about December until the next July ; but the emergence 

 of the moths is often irregular and maj be spread over a prolonged 

 period. The brownish, hairy caterpillars feed normally on low- 

 growing weeds but readily invade and attack crops of almost all 

 kinds, causing great damage. When they are already in large 

 numbers, little can be done except to keep them out of the cropped 

 areas as far as possible by trenching; as usual, the best means of 

 control is by prevention and this maj be don, bj a vigorous attack 

 on the moths themselves when they first emerge and before they 

 have time to lay eggs. The first emerj the moths is fairly 



1 li Mel conspicuous, so that thi 

 be 1 ollei ti d and destroyed in large numbers, thus directly checking 

 subsequent increase. The eggs .\n- laid in batches and hand-picking 

 ot the caterpillars, immediately thi en, should also be done. 



Cutworms is the term applied to the caterpillars of certain moths 

 of which Euxoa Agrotis (segetum) is a common and destructive pest 

 in the Hills. ["hese caterpillars hide during the day under stones 

 or clods or in the soil itself and only issue forth at night to Iced. 

 when they cut through the stems of young plants at ground-level 

 and feed on the leaves, the destruction done by them being greatly 

 increased by their habit of cutting through many more plants than 

 they actually consume. These Cutworms are extremely difficult 

 pests to « ontrol. As they hide by day. they are difficult to find and 

 it is by no means easy to kill them with a Stomach Poison, as they 



