LEPIDGPTERA. 
412 
A considerable number have a large number of foodplants, including 
cultivated plants, and these often become injuriously abundant. The 
pests fall into several series, as pests, including the seed-eating species, 
the surface caterpillars, the swarming caterpillars and leaf-eating cater¬ 
pillars. None are household or grain pests. These insects have many 
enemies, notably the parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera. These para¬ 
sites can very commonly be reared from the larvae or pupae and constitute 
a very important check without which the crop feeding species would 
be far more frequently injurious. Predaceous insects (e.g., Carabidce) 
also attack the larvae, and the fossorial Hymenoptera carry them off to 
store for their young. Birds, especially Mynas, attack the larvae, and the 
moths are probably destroyed by birds and bats. 
The family is a very large one, Hampson listing more than 2,000 
Indian forms, the majority of which are from the hills. The number of 
species actually generally distributed outside the hill and forest areas is 
probably within 300, but these have not been as carefully collected. 
About fifty are known as crop pests or feeders on cultivated plants and 
this number will probably be increased. 
Hampson in the Fauna of India divides them into nine sub-families. 
In his more recent Catalogue of Lepidoptera Phalaenae, wherein he lists 
the species of the world, the classification is revised and fifteen sub-fami¬ 
lies are recognised. While this is probably a more natural classification, 
it is as yet incomplete, and as the nomenclature formerly used differs 
markedly from that now being published, the revised nomenclature is 
used, when possible, with the old in a bracket, thus admitting of reference 
to the volumes on the Fauna of India ; the sub-families adopted are those 
of the Catalogue, and we have followed Dudgeon* in placing the genera 
in their sub-families. 
Key to the Sub-families. 
A. Maxillary palpi absent. 
B. Hindwing with vein 5 obsolescent from or 
from just below middle of discocellulars. 
C. Mid and hind tibiae, or hind tibiae 
only spined .. .. . . Agrotince. 
* We have to thank Dr. Annandale for permission to use the Dudgeon collection 
arrangement. 
