Page:Life-histories of Indian insects - Microlepidoptera - T. Bainbrigge Fletcher.djvu/43

 V 12 LIFE-HISTORIES OF PTEROPHORID^ " The pupa is about 7 mm. long and is attached to the undersurf ace of the mid-rib of a leaf of the focdplant. The appendage sheaths and anal portion are of a yellowish-green colour, the remainder of a very pale pinkish- red. The dorsal surface bears a system of highly specialized tubercles, the nature of which will be best undertstocd by a reference to the figure (Plate F, figure 11)"(«). The moth is shown in Plate II, figure 3. It measures 6-8 mm. and has a wing expanse of 13-15 mm. The wings are held out at right angles to the body when at rest. The moths are to some extent diurnal and fly by day ; coupling takes place by day or night and lasts about 12 hpurs. Duration of life-cycle. The winter life-cycle is longer than that of the hot weather or rains ; it occupies nearly two months : Egg .. 6 days. Larva. . 30 „ Pupa .. 22 „ Total. . Egg Larva. . Pupa. . Total. . Egg .. Larva. . Pupa. . Total. . 58 „ In February-March, it is : 6 days 20-21 „ 9 „ 35-36 „ In September, it is : 2 days 17-20 „ 5 „ 24-27 „ Occurrence. This insect may be found in active life throughout the year ; there appears to be no definite stage in which it rests or hibernates, and the broods succeed one another irregularly from month to month. In the cold weather, as in the hot weather and rains, the larvse are found on the different foodplants ; these include the pigeon-pea (Cajanus indicus), kulthi {Dolichos lahlab), the Jcaddu or bottle-gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris) ; the plant known as calabash is also stated to be the foodplant in West Africa. They are most noticeable on the flower-buds and pods of pigeon-pea in the early or late cold weather, since they are then associated with damage to this crop, caused also by Exelastis aiomosa, Wlsm. It is uncertain how long the moth can live ; in