LEPIDOPTERA. 433 



Distribution. — Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. — The full-grown caterpillar is about 20 mm. long, 

 cylindrical, segments distinct ; its colour is variable, greenish, 

 sometimes pale-yellowish green ; scattered over the body arc small 

 oval horny patches from which arise stout bristly hairs. It lives in 

 .1 fold ol the leaf, which it rolls over and fastens with silk, only 

 emerging to cat the green matter of surrounding leaves. It is \< r\ 

 active when disturbed. The small reddish-brown pupa is contained 

 in a slight cocoon within a folded leaf. The pupal period is about 

 a week. 



Foodplants. Cholam, Maize, Ragi. 



Status. — A very minor pest of the larger cereals. 



DICHOCROCIS PUNCTIFERALIS, Gn. 



Botys punctiferalis, Guenee, Delt & Pyr., p. 320. 



Dichocrocis punctiferalis, Hmpsn., Faun. Ind. Moths, IV, 307, f. 

 181 ; Lcfroy, Ind. Ins. Pests, p. 159 ; Ent. Mem. Agri. Dept., bid.. 

 I, 21 1 ; Ind. Ins. Life, p. 517, t. 50. 



(See Plate XXXIV.) 



Distribution. — Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. — Full-grown caterpillar 15—25 mm. long, rather 

 stout, pale or reddish brown with numerous flattened horny warts 

 from which arise short bristly hairs; head red-brown, prothoracic 

 shield large. Bores in stems, seeds and fruits. Pupa in a strong 

 silken cocoon ; pupal period 7 10 days. 



Foodplants. Castor (stems and seed-capsules), Turmeric (stem), 

 Ginger (stem and rhizome). Guava (fruit). Outside of Southern 

 India it has been reported as attacking Mango flow* 



psules, etc. 



Status. Sometimes a serious pest of Castor and Fruit. Chiefly 

 tot pest. 



Control. — Attacked shoots and seed-capsules of Castor an 

 spicuous (see plate) and should be collected and d( stroyed. 



Remarks. In the coloured plate the caterpillar is shown as rather 

 too dark a brown and the moth should be more of a bright orange- 

 yellow colour. 



>I.EIA INDICATA, Fb. 

 Ph, iluna indicata, Fab., Ent. Syst., Ill, ii.. 218 I i; 



vulgalis.— Guenee, Delt & Pyr., p. 202, t. 6, f. 8. 

 \eia vulgalis, Hmpsn.. Faun. Ind. Moths. IV. 315 316; Lcfroy, 

 Ind. Ins. Life. p. 517. 

 28 



