Tiger Moth/ Red Hairy Caterpillar

Symptom

Eggs hatch out together and feed first on the leaf. The newly hatched larvae either eat the entire leaf or nibble the epidermis on both sides, giving the leaves a peculiar whitish and spotted appearance. Minute pelllets of larval excreta and/ or early instars feeding gregariously in large numbers on the undersurface of leaves are also visible. The early instar larval damage is generally noticed in patches in the field. The late instars feed on the entire leaf leaving behind only the main veins.  Damage by larvae differs from crop to crop. Late instar larvae which, being reddish brown or yellow and possessing tufts of long hair, can be easily seen the green background of the crop.