1. Module II: Economically Important Insect Pests
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
Lesson 2: Hairy Caterpillars
About Hairy caterpillars
Several species of hairy caterpillars attack groundnut.
Two species of red hairy caterpillars are important. While one species is found in south India, the other one in the northern states.
Both species can be devastating, but are highly sporadic.
Earlier they were key pests of groundnut. Now they are unpredictably important in isolated pockets.
Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

2. About Hairy Caterpillars
The adults are white moths with brownish forewings (Top Fig.).
The adults emerge from the soil at the onset of the southwest monsoon (usually in June).
Females lay eggs in clusters of on groundnut and other host plants.

3. About Hairy Caterpillars
The larvae are initially light brown, but turn reddish as they grow.
Their 'hairiness' makes them conspicuous, especially the larger ones.
After completely defoliating the crop in the field, they migrate to the next groundnut field.

4. About Bihar Hairy Caterpillars
Bihar hairy caterpillar is widely distributed in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in India.
The adult is a brown moth. The forewings have black spots and the abdomen is red with black spots.
Eggs are laid in clusters of

5. About Bihar Hairy Caterpillars
The larvae measure up to 5 cm and are covered with long yellowish to black hairs (Fig.).
Their damage to groundnut foliage is similar to that of other species of hairy caterpillars.

6. Crop Damage
Hairy caterpillars scarp the under surface of the leaf in their early stages.
The scrapped patches of the leaves can be easily detected.
Full-grown larvae devour the entire foliage, flowers and growing points.

7. Management
Hand picking of larvae, and collection and destruction of egg masses are effective in reducing the larval population.
Planting of barnyard millet around the groundnut field may act as strong physical barrier. Such a barrier reduces the cost of insecticide use.
Use of light traps soon after the monsoon for days and collecting and killing of adult moths are effective.

8. Management
Migrating larvae of hairy caterpillar from one field to another can be checked by digging trenches across the direction of their march, and destroy them.
Distribute small balls of poison bait in the field. The poison bait is prepared by mixing 10 to 12 kg rice bran, 1 kg jaggery and one liter Quinolphos. Or, use the bait as described for tobacco caterpillar.

9. Management
Dusting of Carbaryl or Quinolphos at kg/ha controls young larvae.
Use of 200 ml Dichlorovos 100 EC in 400 liters of water/ha may be used to control grown up caterpillars. or
Spray Endosulfan 2 ml/liter or Monocrotophos 1.6 ml/liter or Quinolphos 2 ml/liter of water or Cypermethrin 1 ml/liter of water .

10. Module II: Economically Important Insect Pests
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
The Lesson 2 on Hairy caterpillars concludes.
The Lesson 3 is about Gram Pod Borer that affects groundnut crop.
The subsequent Lessons describe other economically important insect pests in groundnut crop.
Select Lesson 3 in Module II from Course contents
Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut