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various oauses, they may increase rapidly and 
become a serious danger. The difficulty of dealing 
with insects of this type is, however, nearly always 
increased by the fact that the cultivator fails to 
report their presence sufficiently early. 
Among the caterpillars, which are very general 
feeders on low-growing crops, those of the following 
moths, ( Noctuidae ), may be mentioned: — 
Prodenia litura, Fb., Spodoptera mauritia, 
Boisd., Spodoptera pecten, Gn., Agrotis ypsilon, 
Rott. 
The caterpillars of the moths Creatonotus spp., 
(Arctiidae ) , Euproctis spp., (Lymantriidae) , Tira- 
cola. plagiata, Walk., ( Noctuidae ), are also fairly 
general feeders, those of Tiracola plagiata being 
especially liable to attack plants growing adjacent 
to jungle. 
The control of these insects will depend on local 
conditions and on the particular crop attacked. In 
general, since these are biting insects which eat the 
leaves and stems, spraying with a poison such as 
lead arsenate is the method of control indicated. 
Araecerus fasciculatus , De G., (Anthribidae) . 
This small beetle is responsible for much damage 
to seeds in the field and store. The eggs are laid 
singly, one near each seed, which the grub destroys, 
later pupating inside the pod. In some cases only 
five per cent, of the seeds escape damage. 
In the case of growing plants a thorough pruning, 
to remove all ripe and unripe pods, is effective, but 
a distance of 500 to 1,000 yards, must be left between 
pruned areas which have been attacked, and un- 
pruned unattacked areas. 
/(4S 
