LEPIDOPTERA. 405 



Eupterote mollifera, Wlk., Cat. XXXII. 376; Hmpsn., Faun. 1ml. 

 Moths, l, 57 59; Lefroy, Ind. Ins. Life, p. 471. 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. Caterpillar about 40 mm. long, dull brown or red- 

 brown, with a dull whitish line along the side above the spiracles ; 

 head and true legs reddish ; all the segments with numerous warts 

 from which arise spreading tufts of line brown hair; on the back 

 of the first and third to sixth abdominal segments are also large 

 thick tufts of short dark-brown hairs. 



Food pi ant, Moringa pterygosperma (Tamil, Moringai). 



Status. Occasionally a serious pest, occurring in enormous num- 

 ber and defoliating the trees. 



('mitral. The caterpillars usually rest on the tree-trunk during 

 the day time and maj be destroyed by burning with a torch. 



NOTE. — The hairs ot this caterpillar are poisonous and care 

 should be taken not to tomb them or even to approach the tie., on 

 which they occur nearer than necessary. 



S \ rURNIAD 1 



ACT I AS SELENE, Hb. 



Attacus selene, Hubn., Samml. Exot. Si hm., I. t. \;2. 1. 3, 

 Actios selene, Hmpsn., Faun. Ind. Moths. I, [3, f. 8; Lefroy, hid. 

 Ins. Life, p. 478, f. 326. 



[See Figi re 276.] 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. The full-grown caterpillar is about 75 mm. long, 

 stout, with distinct segments, in colour bright apple-green, with two 

 rows of yellow spinous warts alone, the back and another row along 

 the side ; the line hairs on the back are yellowish, t hose on the 

 sides and beneath blackish ; pad to anal claspers reddish. Cocoon 

 tough, oval, brown, usually enclosed in a leaf or leaves. 



Foodplants. Moringa pterygosperma and various other shmbs. 



Status. Xot very common as a rule. 



Remarks. < )n account ot the large size of the < ocoon, inquiries 

 n made with regard to the value of the silk produ 

 this insect. It is. however, of no commercial importance. 



CRICI t. \ 1 Kii I'.i STRATA, Heifer. 



Cricula trifenestrata, Hi \ " 1 . 4 5 : Hmpsn.. Faun. Ind. 



Moths, I, 28, f. 14; Lefroy. Ind. Ins. Life. p. 481. 



Distribution. Throughout the damper districts of Southern India. 



