158 common insect pests 



Pulses. 



There are various minor pests, but very little is known as 

 yex regarding the insects which attack this class of crop. 

 Gingelly, 



Is attacked by a caterpillar (Antlgastra) ; hand-picking is 

 probably the best remedy. 



Castor. 



Attacked by semi-looper caterpillars (Achoea) and by 

 Hairy Caterpillars. Hand-picking is probably the best 

 remedy. In bad cases, cutting down the plants may be 

 necessary. 



Groundnut. 



(i) Surul (Anacampsis nerteria) is the most important pest. 

 May perhaps be checked by light-traps, but further investiga- 

 tion is required. 



(ii) Yerpuchi (Sphenoptera) is a pest of general occurrence, 

 causing considerable loss by boring in the stem. All plants 

 attacked should be removed from the field and destroyed. 



(iii) Hairy Caterpillars occur especially in South Arcot. 



Cotton. 



(i) Bollworm (Earias) attacks firstly the top shoots of the 

 young plants and afterwards bores into the bolls. All top- 

 shoots seen to wither should be removed and destroyed and 

 the same practice applied later on to all bolls found to be 

 attacked. The removal of the plants from the fields immedi- 

 ately after harvest will of itself form a remedy also. 



(ii) fled Cotton Bug {Dysdercus) sucks the bolls, destroying 

 the seed and staining the lint. May easily be collected by 

 hand and destroyed. 



(iii) Dusky Cotton Bug {Oxycarwnus) is a very small bug 

 which breeds chiefly in old bolls, which have been attacked 

 by the Bollworm. All these old useless bolls should be 

 removed and destroyed. 



Brinjal, Gourds and Melons, Sweet Potato. 



These are all attacked by various minor insect pests. The 

 usual remedy is the complete destruction of the plants or 

 fruits affected. 



Tobacco. 



(i) Tobacco Caterpillar (Prodenia) does damage especially 

 in the nurseries ; may be picked off by hand : in bad cases it 

 may be necessary to irrigate or trench. 



(ii) Stem Caterpillar (Pthorimcea) bores in the stem 

 causing characteristic swellings. Young plants I attacked 

 should be destroyed and replaced. 



