No. 3.j Vegetables. 131 



IV.— INSECT PESTS OF VEGETABLES. 



On Brassica (JEubrassica) olvacce botrytis. Natural Order 

 Crudferce. The Cauliflower and " Kulmi sag." 



1. Prodenia liltoralis, Boisduval. Family Noctuidse. Sub-order 

 Phalsense. Order Lepidoptera. Plate xii, figs, 40, larva ; /afi, pupa; 

 4 imago. 



The larva of the moth Prodenia littoralis, Boisduval, was found 

 in Calcutta in January and February feeding on cauliflower, and in 

 November on the pot-herb "kulmi sag." In "Indian Museum 

 Notes," vol. i, p. 210 (1889), it was reported to be destructive to mul- 

 berry trees at Balasore ; in vol. iii, n. 5, p. 59 (1896), the larva, 

 pupa and imago are figured, and it is recorded that the larva is very 

 destructive to the young tobacco plants in North-East Sumatra; and 

 on page 68 of the same volume to be destructive to potato plants at 

 Berhampore. The moth is found in the Mediterranean subregion 

 and throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of the Old World. 

 The species is refigured here from fresh specimens in the larval, 

 pupal and imaginal stages. 



On Hibiscus esculentus, Linn. Natural Order Malvacece, 

 The Bhindi or Lady's Fingers. 



1. Earias fabia, Stoll, Cramer's pap. ex., vol. iv, p. 126, pi. ccclv, 

 fig. H (1781). Sub-family Gonopterinse. Family Noctuida?. Sub-Order 

 Phalasnaz, Order Lepidoptera. Plate xii, figs. ib, lateral view of 

 larva] ic, lateral view of pupa ; 1 and la, moth, upper-side only- 

 all natural size. 



The larva of this moth was found feeding on the flesh of the pods 

 of the Bhindi in Calcutta in February and September 190 1, and 

 were bred in the Indian Museum, Calcutta. According to Sir George 

 Hampson, "Fauna of British India: Moths," vol. ii, p. 133, 

 n. 1509 (1894), it has three synonyms, Aphusia speiplena, Walker 

 (1857), Micra partita, Walker (1865), and Earias hilgeli, Rogenhofer 

 (1870). He placed it in the Arctiidae, but its larva proves it to be a 

 true noctuid. Hampson gives the Punjab, Calcutta, Ganjam, South 

 India, Ceylon and Java as its habitat. In the Indian Museum are 

 specimens from Karachi and Bombay. The larva when full-grown is 

 9 of an inch in length; with the usual three thoracic, four abdominal 

 and one pair of anal legs; cylindrical, but tapering to either end ; 

 the head small pale greenish, but with two large, shining, dark brown 



