386 



SOME SOI III INDIAN INSECTS, ETC 



Lifehistory. -The larva is about 45 mm. long when full-grown, 

 rather slender, with only two pairs of prolegs, green in colour; 

 along the back on each segment is a pair of black horse-shoe 

 shaped marks, their convex sides directed outwards, and there are 

 also a few scattered black warts from which arise single short 

 hairs. The caterpillar is generally seen on the plants in the early 

 morning or evening, hiding itself during the rest of the day under 

 leaves or on the ground close to the plants. When touched, it 

 wriggles and jumps with great activity. Pupation is effected in a 

 cocoon formed on the surface of the ground of earth and dry leaves. 



Foodplaiits.— Cotton, hollyhock, probably also gogu, bhindi and 

 other malvaceous plants. Lavatera (Hampson). 



St, tins. —A very minor pest of cotton, occasionally doing slight 

 injury by eating the tender leaves ami young shoots. 



ACH.'EA MELICERTA, Dr. 



i0.— Achcea melicerta, I u th. The outline figure shown the 



inal.) 



Noctua melicerta, Drury, 111. Exot. Ins.. 1. 42. t. 23, f. 1 (1770). 



Ophiusa melicerte, I Impsn., Faun. Ind. Moths. II, 494-495 ; Lefroy, 

 Ind. Ins. I\s t ., p. 13s, it. i;,s. [79, l-'.m. Mem. Dept. Agri., Ind., 1,185, 

 f. 54, II, pp. 59—77, t. 6, 7, Ind. Ins. Life, pp. 451-452. 



