Red hairy caterpillars: Amsacta albistriga and Amsacta moorei

Symptoms of damage

1. Young larvae scrap the undersurface of leaves and the leaves become papery.
2. Grown up larvae devour the entire foliage, leaving the main stem as the field grazed by cattle. 

Identification of insect pest   

1. Egg: Round, yellowish-white eggs laid on the under surface of the leaves.
2. Larva: Early instars brown and grown-up larva turn reddish brown with black bands and reddish brown hairs all over the body. 
3. Pupa: Pupation in earthen cells at a depth of 10-20 cm in field bunds and moist shady areas.
4. Adult: Medium-sized moths, emerge after showers.

    Amsacta albistriga: Forewings are white with brownish streak all over and yellowish streak along the anterior margin and head.
Hindwings are white with black markings.
Amsacta moorei: Forewings are white with brownish streak all over and reddish streak along the anterior margin and head.

Hindwings are white with black markings

Management

• Deep summer ploughing to destroy the pupa.  
• Early sowing to escape from pest damage.

• Crop rotation with sorghum or pearl millet or maize will reduce pest infestation.
• Irrigate the field to avoid prolonged mid-season drought to prevent infestation.
• Install a light trap @ 1/ ha or bonfires immediately at the onset of rains to attract and kill the moths in endemic areas.
• Collect and destroy egg masses and early instar larvae in the damaged fields.
• Dig out a trench around the field to avoid the migration of caterpillars and kill them.
• Conserve natural enemies viz., spiders, coccinellids, chrysopids, parasitoids  Bracon and Chelonus spp., by intercropping with pigeon pea and mung bean
• Spray nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) @ 6 x 1012 POB/ac
• For grown up caterpillars apply, quinalphos 1.5 DP @ 10 kg/ac

Larva Amsacta albistriga moth Amsacta moorei moth