LEl'IDOPTERA. 377 



Perigea capensis, Hmpsn., Cat. Phal., VII, .532 334. t, 116, f. 20. 



Fig. 239. Perigea capensis. (Original.) 



Distribution.- Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. Larva smooth, with a conical elevation on last 

 segment, pale-green, with scries of white-dotted purple-brown 

 blotches along the back and sides and a row of white dots along 

 the sides lower down. 



>Iants. SafHower. Probably verj various; Acanthads 

 (Hampson), Niger-seed (Khorasani), Jute, Coreopsis, Kakaronda 

 (Blumea balsamifera) (Lefroj I. 



Status. A destructive pest oi safflower. 



Control. -Spraying with Lead Arsenate has been found effective 

 in small experimental plots. 



PRODENIA LITURA, Kb. (PLATE XIX.) 



Noctua litura, Fab., Syst. Ent., p. 601 (1775). 



Prodenia littoralis, Boisd. ; Hmpsn., Faun. Inch Moths, II, 247-248, 

 I. 131); Lefroy, bid. Ins. Pests, 11. 156, ff. 176-177, Ent. Mem. Agri. 

 Dept., Ind., 1, 171, 11, 7Q 93, t. 8, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 447. 



Prodenia litura, Hmpsn., Cat. Phal., Ylll, 245 -247. 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. — Eggs laid in (dusters on leaves and covered with 

 buff-coloured hairs derived from the body of the female moth. The 

 eggs hatch after three or four days into small blackish-green larvae 

 which live gregariously lor a short time before dispersing. After 

 about 20 days the larva is full \od and is then about 40 mm. long, 

 stout, smooth, except lor a few scattered short hairs, dull dark- 

 greyish (almost blackish-green) with a bright yellow stripe down 

 the back and along each side and a rather duller yellow stripe 

 along the lower edge ol the body, each yellow side-stripe being 

 bordered above by a black lunule; head and legs dark, the former 

 with a pah' A-mark. Pupation in an earthcrn cell about two inches 

 below the soil ; pupa red-brown, die- moth emerges alter about 

 six days. The whole life-cycle occupies about a month. 



Foodplants—TolyphagOUS. It has been found to attack the 

 following in Madias: Castor, tobacco, maize, tomato, Colocasia, 

 agathi, jute, indigo, lucerne, brinjal, cabbages, elephant yam, 

 peas, plantain (leaves; Godavari) and grass, h will probably eat 

 almost any low-growing plant. 



