Slug Caterpillar: Parasa lepida and Contheyla rotunda

Symptoms of Damage:

• The larvae is the destructive stage if the pest. The young larvae feed on the lower epidermis of the leaf. As they mature, the whole leaf blade is eaten leaving the midribs. In heavy infestation, the larvae may defoliate the palm.

Symptom	Adult

Identification of the Pest:

• Egg: Flat shiny eggs on the under surface of leaves
  
• Larva: Greenish body with white lines and four rows of spiny scoli tipped red or black, which cause irritation and pain.
  
• Pupa: It pupates in a compact elliptical chocolate brown shell like cocoon, which is convex above and flat ventrally as stems. Cocoons are covered with irritating spines and hairs
  
• Adult: Adult moth has green wings with prominent dark patch at the base of each forewing.

Management
Chemical Method:

• Collect and destroy the immature stages of the insects by conducting study (or neem campaign) wherever possible and spray carbaryl 50 WP 2 gm/lit .
  
• Spray carbaryl 50 WP 2 g/l.
• Spray dichlorvos 76 WSC 2 ml / lit.
  

Mechanical Method:

• Set up light traps to trap and collect adult moths. About 5 light traps may be installed per hectare.