126 



PESTS OF CANE, MAIZE, AND SOKGHUM. 



from three or four to 



The whole cluster forms a 

 on the leaf, usually about 



length 



and 



FIG. 144. 



Moth-borer Eggs. 



(Magnified twenty times.) 



enters the shoots or 

 the stem. If possible 

 it spends the rest of 

 its caterpillar life inside 

 the plant. The cater- 

 pillar grows larger, 

 becoming a dirty white 

 colour ; the head is 

 black ; there are many 



twenty or more. 



. small patch 



a third of an inch in 

 about one-twelfth of an inch across, 

 When first laid, the eggs are creamy white, 

 after which they turn yellow and then 

 orange before hatching. In about one 

 week the caterpillar comes out and leaves 

 the empty white egg-shell. It commences 

 its life as a tiny active creature, about 

 one-tenth of an inch long, orange in colour, 

 with many short dark spines and a black 

 head. It feeds upon the leaves of the plant 

 while it is young, and after a week or so 



^pfllfl 





Moth-borer. 



FIG. 145. 

 (Magnified three times.) 



FIG. 146. 



Moth-borer Pupa. 



(Magnified.) 



little dark spots on the body, each of which 

 bears a small dark hair. The usual three pairs of 

 legs and five pairs of sucker-feet may be seen with 

 which the caterpillar walks actively if disturbed. 

 Life in this form lasts for about four weeks, 

 except in the cold weather when it may last some 

 months. When the caterpillar has become full 

 grown and is a little more than one inch long, it 

 makes a hole to the outside of the plant, spins a 

 lining of thread inside the burrow near this open- 

 ing and rests for two days. The skin is then 

 thrown off and it turns into a chrysalis ; this 

 is three-quarters of an inch or less in length, 

 brown, with no legs or mouth. The chrysalis 

 lies in the burrow, unable to move except by 

 wriggling, remaining thus for six to seven 

 days. Then the skin splits open, and the motl} 

 comes out, 



