438 



1! INDIAN [NSECTS, ETC 



Hellula undalis, Hmpsn., Faun. Ind. Mollis IV, 373, f. 200; Lefroy, 

 hid. Ins. Life, p. 519; U.S.A. Ent. Bull. No. 10. pp. 51—57. i- 12, I.e. 

 No. 23, PP. 53—61, f. 13. 



A /I 



Fig. 114. — Hellula undalis. Larva, pupa and moth. The outline 1 

 show the natural sizes. (After U.S.A. Dept. Agri. Bulletin.) 



Distribution. —Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory. — The creamy-yellow eggs arc laid as a rule on the 

 under surface of leaves or on the top-shoot of the foodplant, occa- 

 sionally on the stem, dry leaves, etc. The newly-hatched cater- 

 pillar at first mines the leaves but later on builds covered passages 

 of silk and excrement, at first on the leaves and then on the petioles, 

 until they reach the stem into which they bent- and pass the remain- 

 der of their larval existence. The full-grown caterpillar is about 

 12 — 15 mm. long, moderately stout, with a few short hairs scattered 

 over the body ; in colour it is variable, pinkish-white, greyish-yellow 

 oi yellowish-grey, with purplish-brown stripes, one down the back 

 and three on each side, of which the lowest is faintest ; head black. 

 The pah- yellowish-brown pupa in a rather compact cocoon of white 

 silk, spun either amongst leaves, on the ground, or in the larval 

 burrow. Life-cycle, egg about 4 days, larva about 9 days, pupa 6 



days, total about 3 weeks. 



Foodplants. Cabbage, radish, mustard. 



Status. Sometimes verj destructive to small garden-plots of 

 cabbages, radish and other cruciferous plants. 



Control. The only practical method seems to be the destruction 

 of all plants first attacked to prevent the increase of the insect 

 later on. 



TERASTIA METICULOSAI.IS. C,n. 



Terastia metiadosalis, Guenee, Delt. el Pyr.. p. 212 (1854) ; Hmpsn.. 

 Faun. In. 1. Moths. IV. 381. f. 206. 



