Studies on Stomopteryx nerteria Meyr-A Pest of Groundnut in the Madras Presidency.

Abstract

Groundnut (Arachis hypogoea) is attacked by a number of pests of which the hairy caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga M.) and the surul moth (Stomopteryx nerteria Meyr.) are the more important. Meyrick (1906) has described the moth under Anacampsis nerteria. Fletcher (1914 and 1917), Lefroy (1909) and Ramakrishna Ayyar (1940) have given short accounts of the pest; detailed information is however lacking. Studies on the pest were therefore taken up at the Agricultural Research Station, Tindivanam (South Arcot district) and the results thereof are presented in this paper.