No. 2, ] Note on the Pest Of the Teak tree. 95 



My recollection (for I unfortunately have mislaid the notes I took) 

 of! the ravages of these caterpillars when I was in charge of the Ran- 

 goon Division, is that they appeared in the teak plantations on or about 

 the 20th May, sometimes in almost incredible numbers. Their ravages 

 were confined to certain areas, where they re-appeared year after year 

 strippiug the young teak of their leaves with the rapidity almost of lo- 

 custs, and hanging in thousands by webs to the branches of the trees. 



It is quite possible that tigblma puera may, like the Tortrix murinana 

 mentioned by Mr, Nisbet in paper above quoted, pupate among the dead 

 leaves on the ground, but, if! so, I should fancy few individuals could 

 survive, for a plantation attacked by these pests is a wonderful scene of! 

 activity. Numbers of jungle fowl, ground thrushes [PiU%], and insectiv- 

 orous birds of all kinds crowd to the spot to feed on the caterpillars. 



r Ihe Py rails, as I have already said, rolls up the edge of a leaf and is 

 thus rendered less conspicous and saved from enemies. It certainly 

 occurs in far greater numbers than the Ht/blaa puera. 



Maulmain ; 



lSUi June 1892. 



V 9 



