CHAPTER xl. 



PESTS OF LEGUMINOUS CROPS. 



BESIDES the four pests described below, few insects are known to 

 attack leguminous plants. This is largely due to the fact that these 

 plants are mainly subsidiary crops, so 

 that destructive insects have not the 

 same opportunities for attack. The 

 pests described probably have a greater 

 range among the leguminous crops 

 than is at present known ; the pod 

 caterpillar of tur is found on val 

 (Dolichos lab-lab) and probably on 

 other pulses. 



Tur Pod Caterpillar. 



As the tur or arJiar (Cajanus indi- 

 cus) crop ripens, the seeds are des- 

 troyed by small caterpillars. These 

 are the larvae of the Tur Plume 

 Moth (fig. 160), 1 an insect first found 

 in Nagpur and since recognised in 

 several parts of India. 



Life History.' The life history resembles that of other moths. Small 



round eggs are laid 

 singly by the moth 

 on the flower or 

 small pods. These 

 hatch in five days 

 to small greenish 

 caterpillars, which 

 eat through the pod 

 and feed upon the 

 seeds within. The 

 caterpillar does not 

 enter the pod but 

 makes a hole to the 

 seed, and feeds from 



FIG. 157. 



Tur Pod Caterpillar on left, a bunch of 



spines as found on each segment 



on right. 



FIG. 158. 

 Pupa of Tur Plume Moth. (Magnified six times.) 



1 72. Exelasta parasita. Meyr. (Pterophoridse.) 



