210 Indian Economic Entomology. [Vul. L 



the spread of the caterpillars known as daungde over an area of more than three 

 thousand acres. It was on or about the 11th July last when these caterpillars first 

 made their appearance in a few nurseries in the Alodawya Wethgan circles. They 

 were originally of the size of the lead of an ordinary pencil, but in about ten days 

 they grew four or five times larger than the original size, and their spread became 

 general throughout the above-mentioned two circles. In size and appearance they 

 are exactly like the caterpillars usually seen in vegetable gardens. The only differ- 

 ence is that these caterpillars are multipedal and can creep slowly, although not so 

 fast as the centipedes. They are known to feed upon tender grass and leaves of 

 young plants like other caterpillars. 



" In my opinion the caterpillars now in question belong to the genus Perilatus. The 

 destruction of crops was confined only to the two circles above noted, affecting about 

 3,015 acres, and the damage done to the nurseries in other circles is trivial ; it is not 

 worth while to note them. It appears that these insects commenced their attack from 

 the top of the stalk, which they ate up till there was nothing tender left. The same 

 pest occurred about eight years ago, although not to the extent that was seen this year. 

 The ash of the paddy husk or tobacco stalks and leaves is known to have been 

 scattered over the parts attacked as a measure for destroying these larvae, and other like 

 measures were also adopted without any success. A few heavy showers of rain are, 

 however, known to have caused their vanishment. In the same way the recent heavy 

 showers that we have had have caused the entire disappearance of the caterpillars now 

 in question. 



" This clearly shows that the simplest method of killing the larva is to drown 

 them. Fresh seeds have since been sown in places where damage was done, and the 

 affected nurseries which caused so much anxiety have again resumed a green and 

 healthy appearance. As the matter now stands, it is not probable that there will be 

 any short outturn of crops, as was anticipated about a month ago." 



In a local report dated 6th August 1889, received from the Officiat- 

 ing Commissioner of Settlements and Agriculture, 



A rice caterpillar. ° ■ . . . 



Central Provinces, it is noticed that the pest which 



is known in Sambalpur as Harnipok, and which has been identified as 

 probably belonging to the Noetues moth, Leucania loreyi, is usually very- 

 abundant in rice-fields in August, though but very few have appeared 

 this season (1889). 



The following note has been received from Mr. T. Cleghorn of Bala- 



sore on a Noctues moth, Prodenia littoralis, which 

 Prodema httorahs. . 



feeds on muiberiy bushes : — 



" Two perfect insects of this caterpillar with their empty chrysalis cases forwarded. 

 These two caterpillars were found in the mulberry plantation, when half grown, and 

 were reared to maturity in confinement. 'I he animal is very tame and easily reared* 

 It spins no cocoon, but when the time arrives for its transformation into the 

 chrysalis stage, it goes to ground and buries itself about two inches deep near the roots 

 of the mulberry plant. It has the power of postponing its transformation, when it has 

 done feeding, and does not go to ground if the ground be too wet. One in confine- 

 ment was thus made to wait four days, by having the earth in its cage in a semi-liquid 



