520 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
pillar webs up the leaves of croton, Alternanthera and Schizandra in 
•the rains and feeds there. Phlyctcenodes nudalis, Hubn., is a small straw- 
coloured moth which has been reared from fenugreek (Trigonella fcenum- 
grcecum) and croton, but does not appear to be common. Diasemia 
ramhurialis , Dup., is black with ochreous markings and white spots 
found abundantly in the plains, and also according to Hampson, univer¬ 
sally distributed. 
Antigastra catalaunalis , Dup. (Plate LI), is a common and abundant 
pest to til ( Sesamum indicum) ; the larva is light-green, with many black 
spots bearing hairs ; it rolls the leaf of the til plant or bores into the seed 
pods. The larva readily lets itself down with a thread and eventually 
descends to the soil to pupate. The moth is ochreous with reddish veins 
and is easy to recognise. While commonly occurring only in the rains, 
it breeds throughout the year if its foodplant is available. The cater¬ 
pillar of Noorda blitealis , Wlk., is found on the horse-radish tree 
(Moringa pterygosperma) ; the moth lays a white egg on the edge of 
the leaf, from which comes a white larva which later turns green ; the 
larva folds the leaf over or joins two together and feeds on the epidermis. 
The pupa is in a fine silken cocoon. This species is found breeding 
during the rains and is widespread in India. Metasia coniotalis , Hmpsn., 
has been reared from larvye feeding in the tubers of sweet potato in 
Pusa (Plate LII, figs. 1-4). 
Pionea ferrugalis, Hubn., is a small yellow moth widespread over 
Europe, Africa, Asia, whose larva in India feeds on cabbage and kaka- 
ronda (Blumea balsamifera). It is found as a larva during the cold wea¬ 
ther and is likely to be a “cold weather species,” only breeding at 
that time. 
Pyrausta is a large genus of mostly hill forms. The life-history of 
P. machoeralis , Wlk., is described and figured by R. S. Hole in the Journal 
of the Bombay Natural History Society, Yol. XY, p. 679 ; it feeds on teak. 
P. coclesalis, Wlk., is a brown moth, common on the plains, whose larva 
feeds upon bamboo and is occasionally found upon maize. The larva of 
P. salentialis, Snell, feeds upon a species of Polygonum , boring the stem 
and pupating there ; it is an unusual habit for one of this genus. Hiber¬ 
nation as a larva occurs in the stem. 
