Egg, caterpillar and pupal stages last for 2 to 13, 10 to 30 and 10 to 30 days, respectively. Full-grown caterpillars enter soil and pupate in earthen cocoons. Damage is more pronounced in low-lying waterlogged areas. At night they come out, cut seedlings near ground level and eat tender parts. Tiny caterpillars feed gregariously on foliage for a few days and then enter into soil.Ĭaterpillars are nocturnal in habit and hide during day in cracks and crevices in soil or under debris around plants. Eggs are globular in shape, ribbed and whitish in colour. A female lays 300 to 450 eggs in 10 to 15 clusters. Freshly ploughed fields are preferred for oviposition.
Moths appear after dusk, mate and lay eggs on ventral surface of leaves or moist soil.
0 kommentar(er)
