No. 3.] Indigo. 161 



on a paler ground ; on the fifth segment there is always a prominent 

 ocelloid spot on each side in the subdorsal area ; the linear markings 

 are continued across the head ; the constrictions between all the 

 segments obsolete, so that it is difficult to locate the divisions 

 between the segments. Other general colours that may be mentioned 

 are pale gamboge-yellow, sap-green of several shades, ochreous 

 mixed with greenish, many shades of brown, etc. None are pure 

 green. The larva feeds chiefly at night, and rests on the stems of 

 the indigo during the day, to which its various shades of colour closely 

 assimilate, so that the insect is difficult to see. The larva when 

 about to pupate (at least this is always so in captivity) spins a 

 number of leaves together with silk, and forms a slight cocoon in 

 which it turns to a pupa. The pupa is covered with a slight white 

 bloom like that seen on a plum ; it is bro* r n in colour, rather stout* 

 cylindrical, '8 of an inch in length, the head rounded, the posterior 

 segment bluntly pointed, the wing cases prominent, 



The insect is certainly a bad pest to indigo when in an advanced 

 stage. As the pupa does not probably bury in the ground, it would 

 be interesting to know in what stage the insect is when there is no 

 indigo on the ground. Doubtless it feeds on other leguminous plants, 

 of which one has been recorded, so is able to keep up successive 

 generations till the indigo is large enough to support one or more 

 broods of caterpillars during the rainy season. 



1 1. Trigonodes hyppasia, Cramer. Sub-family Quadrifinse. Family 

 Noctuidse. Sub-order Phalsense. Order Lepidoptera. Plate xiii, Fig. 5 

 imago. 



Sir George Hampson gives eight synonyms for this moth, which 

 he thus describes : " Pale ochreous brown, slightly suffused with 

 fuscous or dark grey-brown. Fore wing with a large black white edged 

 triangular patch below the cell from near the base to towards the 

 outer angle ; a similar smaller patch beyond the discoidal cell on 

 vein 5, with some pale fulvous beyond it ; a slightly sinuous sub- 

 marginal pale line, with patches of black suffusion inside it and a 

 series of black specks beyond it ; a dark marginal line. Hind wing 

 with an indistinct medial line ; the outer area suffused with fuscous. 

 Habitat : Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, Aden, throughout India and 

 Burma, Ceylon, China, Formosa, Java, Australasia. Expanse ; 46 

 millim." (1*7 inches.) 



This does not appear to be a formidable pest to full-grown indigo , 

 as only a few specimens were obtained by me. The moth is a verv 

 pretty one, and the two black triangles on the upper side of the 

 fore wing make it easily identifiable. 



