**3.11** *Amsacta albistriga* **(Walker) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)**

**Identification:** the moths emerge from the soil at the onset of the south-west monsoon. They are brownish-white moths with a 40-50 mm wing span. The larvae are light brown and turn reddish as they grow. They are haired and are up to 5 cm long (Jasani, 2009).

**Life cycle and damage**: Females lay around 800-1000 eggs in clusters of 50-100 on the host plants. The eggs hatch in 2-3 days and tiny first instar caterpillars remain under the cover of natural vegetation for about 8-10 days. A week to 10 days old caterpillars spreads to the fields and start feeding. Red hairy caterpillars cause defoliation of the crop as they are voracious feeders and often migrate from one field to another devastating whatever crops come their way. After about 30-40 days of feeding the larvae burrow into soil, usually in the undisturbed soil of field or non-cropped areas and pupate for diapauses. They have one generation in a year (Jasani, 2009; TNAU, n.d.-c).

**Monitoring:** monitor by erection of 12 light traps per ha for 20-45 days (Jasani, 2009).

**Economic and action thresholds:** Economic threshold is when 15-20% of plants are affected.

**Control**: there are different methods for managing this pest. The cultural techniques are: deep ploughing in summer to expose the pupae to predatory birds; early sowing to escape crop from pest infestations; mechanical weeding at 15-20 days after sowing; and intercropping one row of castor for every 5 or 6 rows of groundnut. Crop rotation with sorghum, pearl millet or maize should be followed. Vegetative traps utilizing jatropa (wild castor) or ipomoea prevent the migration of the grown up larvae. Irrigate once to avoid prolonged mid season drought to prevent pre-harvest infestation. Install light traps in endemic areas, collect then kill the moths. Collect and destruct egg masses in the fields around light trap areas. Red hairy caterpillar can be controlled biologically by releasing *Coccinella* sp., and parasitoids like *Bracon hebetor* (Say)*, Chelonus* spp. Also, spraying A-NPV and B.t can reduce the *A. albistriga* population and if the threshold is exceeded applying insecticides is recommended. Methyl parathion 2%, Fanvalerate 0.4%, Endosulfan 35 EC, Quinalphos 25 EC, Nuvan (76%) can control full grown insect pests (TNAU, n.d.-c).
