[ 7'7 ] 



plants, are also Noctuids. L.ifragelis attacks young wheat 

 and millet plants. Prodenia littoralis caterpillars, also be- 

 longing to the Noctuids, did a great deal of damage to mul- 

 berry plantations in the district of Murshidabad, a few years 

 ago. It is also known to attack potato and tobacco plants. 

 The jute is also subject to the attack of another Noctuid. 



1.255. The Noctuid parasite that does most harm during 

 the hot weather is the Agrotis segetis. It is most destruc 

 tive to the indigo crop. The moths lay eggs at night on 

 young indigo plants in March or April. In a week the eggs 

 hatch and the larvae keep on eating the leaves for three 

 weeks until they pupate, when they go down deep in the 

 soil. The pupal stage lasts for more than a month, and a 

 second and a more formidable crop of caterpillars some- 

 times does far more damage in the indigo districts in July, 

 than the first crop in May. 



1.256. Spraying is not likely to prove a practical remedy 

 for Noctuids. Long and thorough preparation of the soil, and 

 the use of an insecticidal and manurial mixture along with seed 

 consisting of arsenic, lime, ashes, soot &c., is likely to prove 

 more efficacious. Some tachinid, chalcid and ichneumon flies 

 are parasitic on Noctuid larvae in the same way as tachinid 

 flies are parasitic on silkworms.* Crows, and starlings are also 

 very fond of ferreting out and devouring the larvae and pupae 

 of cut-worms. In cloudy and rainy weather when the cater- 

 pillars come to the surface they are more readily devoured 

 by birds. The same is the case after irrigation, and thorough 

 irrigation's a very good remedy against this pest. In poppy 

 fields, hand-picking of the grubs may be practised. Dusting 

 the plants in the evening with a mixture of quicklime and 

 ashes and the method of catching the Noctuid moths in 

 lantern traps and also in basins containing a mixture of 

 molasses and vinegar, have been successfully tried. 



Vide Handbook of Sericulture by the author (p. 112 &c.) 



