Department of Entomology, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar-751 003 (India).
*A part of approved Ph.D thesis submitted by B.N. Mohanty to the Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar (India).
Outbreak of moths of the rice hairy caterpillar (surti), Nisaga simplex Walker occurred two to three weeks after the onset of monsoon. The early instar (first and second larvae) appeared in the field bund during the last week of June. Peak larval population was seen in mid-July. Mortality of the early instar larvae was of higher order due to abiotic and biotic mortality agents and gradually declined in the late instars. The insect pest was univoltine in habit.
