460 
LEriDOPTERA. 
Dasychira is an important genus with many species. D. horsfieldi, 
Saund., is the common grey moth found so abundantly in forest locali- 
Fig. 313— Thiacidas postica. A. Male, B. Female ; 
C. Pupa, D. Larva (I. M. N.). 
ties after the rains ; the male is a little over half the size of the female. 
D. thwaiiesi, Mo., is mainly a hill or forest form, for which the student 
should consult Indian Museum Notes, I, p. 29. Dasychira mendosa , 
Hubn.,has been reared from larvae feeding on potato ( Solanum tuberosum), 
Mr. de Niceville reared it on ‘ desi badam 5 {Terminalia catap'pa). The 
moth is dark brown, with a light costa, and the forewing is noticeably 
drawn out at the apex. This occurs also in D. securis, Hubn., in 
which the moth is dry grass colour with a central fascia of lilac-grey on 
the forewing. Its larva feeds on a variety of cultivated plants, including 
cereals, grasses and cruciferous plants (Plate XXXIX, fig. 7). The pupa 
is in a thin cocoon of silk and hair, of which one end allows egress to the 
moth. 
Three species of Lymantria may be found ; L. incerta, Wlk., feeds on 
pipal ( Ficus rcligiosa), babul ( Acacia arabica) and ber (Zizyphus jujuba). 
Forsayeth describes the larva as light brown with creamy variegations 
and dark markings. L. ampla, Wlk., was reared by de Niceville on 
country almond ( Terminalia catappa) (Ind. Mus. Notes, V, p. 108), 
and feeds also on pipal ( Ficus religiosa). 
Porthesia xanthorhcea, Roll., is a small white moth with fuscous 
hindwings in the male, and a large yellow anal tuft. The caterpillar 
