CATERPILLARS, 



193 



once recognised by anyone familiar with the moths; the moths 



come to light and are found in 

 houses at night. The species 1 

 t- 1- '' figured (fig. 216) comes out in vast 

 numbers in February or March, 

 flying in the dusk; other species 

 do the same, and an observer fami- 

 liar with the moths will recognise 

 FIG. 218. them and expect a later attack of 



Moth of Behar Hairy Caterpillar. caterpillars. 



Hairy Caterpillars. 



In many parts of India, large numbers of hairy caterpillars appear 

 at certain seasons and either destroy special 

 crops or move from field to field attacking 

 almost any crop. These pests appear when 

 conditions are favourable to the emergence of 

 large numbers of the parent moths which 

 lay eggs on crops or on wild plants; if the 

 eggs are abundant, the caterpillars ravage the 

 crops or, after eating their wild food-plants, 

 move into crops and devour them. 



Apparently particular species are destruc- 

 tive in distinct areas ; the hairy caterpillars of 

 Guzerat are distinct from those of Behar and 

 Oudh, and from those found in Madras. Their 

 time of appearance varies with climatic con- 

 ditions, but is largely confined to the rains. In 



Fm. 219. 



Motli of Behar Hairy Cater 

 pillar. 



FIG. 220. 

 Jute Hairy Caterpillar. (Magnified twice.} 



Guzerat, they appear 

 chiefly in the early 

 weeks of the rains; 

 the moths hatch out 

 in abundance with 

 the first rains, lay 

 eggs, and the cater- 

 pillars hatch and feed 

 on the young crops. 



In Pehar, one brood succeeds another from the end of the cold weather, 

 and this will occur when the conditions are favourable. The life history 



*A.grolis flammatra. (Noctuidae.) 



