460 



SOME SOUTH INDIAN INSECTS, ETC. 



XYLORYCTID/E. 



NEPHANTIS SERINOPA, Meyr. 

 Nephantis serinopa, Meyr., B.J., XVI. 603 (1905); Lefroy, Ind. Ins. 

 Life, p. 535 536. 



Fig. 55Ci. — Nephantis serinopa. Portion of Palm-leaf eaten by larva, and 

 moth (natural size and magnified). (Original.) 



Distribution. — Throughout the Plains of Southern India. 

 Lifehistory. — The eggs, which turn pinkish after deposition, are 



laid in small batches of a dozen or twenty together amongst the 

 trass and debris of larval galleries on palm leaves. The caterpillar 

 constructs a galler} "t silk and excrementitious matter over the 

 lower surface of palm leaves, eating away the green matter and 

 reducing the leaf to a thin membrane so that it dries up and dies. 

 In cases of bad infestation, practically the whole leaf may be eaten 

 \\ 1 . onlj the ribs remaining. The caterpillar is about 25 mm. 

 long, in colour greenish with faint paler lines along the body and a 

 black head. Pupa slender, dark red-brown, in a cocoon spun in the 

 Ian al gallery. 



Foodplants. — Coconut and Palmyra palms. Possibly on other 

 palms also. Not yet noted on Date or Arecanut palms. 



