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Sr 
AGROTIS YPSILON, 
ROTT. 
References :—Rott, Naturf. xi, p. 141. Noctua suffusa, Fabr. Mant. Ins. ii, p. 
157; Moore Lep. Ceyl. iii, pl. 147, fig.6; C. & S. no. 2001. 
Phalena idonea, Cram. Pap. Exot. iii, pl. 275 H. Bombyx 
spinula, Esp. Schmett, iii, pl. 63, figs. 6, 7. Hmpsn. Faun. 
Br. Ind. Moths, ii, p. 182, no. 1623. Stebbing, Injur. In. 
of Ind. For., p. 113, pl. vii, 2. a, b, c.! 
Classification :—Order, LEPIDOPTERA. Sub-Order, HETEROCERA. 
Family, Noctuide, 
Description. 
The larva of this moth is the so-called cut worm which for 
years has done an immense amount of damage to crops and 
plants in India, and is one of the worst pests at present known 
in the country. 
The eggs are pale fulvous yellow in colour, nearly spheri- 
cal in shape, the base being somewhat flattened. 
The larva is a stout, naked, earth-coloured worm, varying 
from half an inch to two inches in length when full fed. [n 
its early stages itis a semi-looper. 
The cocoon is formed of fine particles of soil, firmly cement- 
ed together. On opening this the small pupa will be found 
inside, [tis about half an inch in length and of a yellowish- 
red colour, the eyes and antennz of the moth being distinctly 
prominent through the pupal case. 
The moth is medium sized, the males having bipectinate 
antenne, the branches being of moderate length. The insects 
are whitish brown, pale brown, or fuscous; palpi darker at 
sides; collar with dark line; abdomen whitish. The forewing 
suffused with brown, with double waved sub-basal ante and 
postmedial lines ; the submarginal line dentate, with two black 
streaks on it below the apex and a marginal series of specks ; 
the orbicular and reniform with dark centres and edges and 
1 See also Indian Forester, Vol. XX VII, pp. 62, 63, 243, 244 (1901). 
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