98 DIRADES THECLATA. 

Life History. 
When first observed in the middle of August, these larve 
were about half grown. On the 28th or about the end of the 
month they become full fed and change into the pupal state. 
Only a week is spent in this stage, moths having been obtained 
on the 3rd and 4th September from larve which pupated on the 
28th August. Ifa month is allowed for the larve to grow 
to their full size, we thus see that five weeks suffices for this 
summer generation, It is very probable that it will be found 
that there are several others in the year. 
Localities from which reported. 
The insect has a wide distribution. Hampson gives its 
habitat as W. Africa, throughout India, Ceylon, and Burma. 
These notes on its life history were made in the Central 
Provinces. 
Relations to the Forest. 
The larve defoliate the teak (Zectona grandis) tree in the 
Central Provinces. They were found feeding on the leaves in 
the Damoh District forests in company with the well-known 
teak defoliators HWyblea puera and Pyrausta macheralis, 
The extent of the injury actually done by D. ¢heclata requires 
further careful observation, but asa result of its attacks and 
those of the Pyrausta Mr. Gisborne-Smith stated that in certain 
areas at the end of August the teak trees were quite brown, 
the whole of the foliage having been skeletonised and killed 
by these two caterpillars. D. ¢heclata was also found feeding 
upon Adina cordifolia and “ paraspipal ”’ trees. 
Protection and Remedtes. 
The prescription of remedies for these defoliating larvae is 
difficult and impossible until their full life histories are known. 
Mixed forest is, however, generally found to escape these heavy 
defoliating attacks better than a forest consisting entirely of 
the one species of tree attacked, and it is advisable to bear 
this point in mind when laying out plantations and coppice 
areas. 
