COMMON INSECT PESTS 157 



to attack cultivated crops. It attacks the crop in all stages, 

 devouring the leaves and even the grain. 



Remedies.- -(a) Bagging the young hoppers from July to 

 November ; (b) ploughing, where practicable, to destroy the 

 eggs which are in the ground from January to June. 



Pennisetum Typhoideum. 



(i) Hairy Caterpillars (Creatonotus spp.) attack the crop 

 regularly in South Arcot. Attracting the moths to lights at 

 night has been tried but further investigation is required. 

 The white moths should be collected and destroyed. 



(ii) Green Bug (Nezara viridula) is a pest in Tinnevelly, 

 Guntur, etc., attacking the ripening crop. Can probably be 

 collected by hand and destroyed. 



(iii) Grasshoppers of several kinds attack this crop also ; 

 bagging is usually effective for these. 



Eleusine coracana. 

 Grasshoppers of several kinds. Remedy, bagging. 



Millets. 



(i) Surface Grasshoppers eat young plants and grain 

 heads ; they may be caught by bagging in nets. 



(ii) Stem Fly attacks young plants. Destruction of 

 plants seen to be attacked is probably the only remedy. 



Maize. 



The principal pest is Stem-borer (Chilo), the caterpillar ' 

 of which bores in the stem. Destruction of withering plants 

 and disposal of stubble are remedies indicated. 



Wheat. 



A very small green-fly (Aphis) does considerable damage 

 at times. 



Sugarcane. 



(i) Stem-borers of various kinds are important pests 

 especially in the young crop. All dead hearts should be 

 rigidly cut out and burnt. 



(ii) Mealy-wing Bugs (Aleurodes) are important chiefly in 

 ratoon crops ; they suck the leaves, leading to weak plants 

 and very inferior juice, making bad sugar. 



(iii) White-ants (Termes spp.) often do great damage to 

 young sets. Soaking these in a solution of copper sulphate 

 before planting and the use of insecticides in irrigation water 

 will usually check the attack until the young canes are 

 established. 



