VARIATION IN NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIOUR OF HAIRY CATERPILLARS, DIACRISIA OBLIQUA (WLK.) (ARCTIDAE) AND LYMANTRIA MARGINATA WLK. (LYMANTRIIDAE)

Maximum feeding potentiality 4 hrs before dusk and 4 hrs earlier to dawn suggests D. obliqua as diurnal and L. marginata as nocturnal in their behaviour. The regression analysis of the leafy area so consumed predicted unit injury level as one of the possibilities for control activities Data on ecological efficiencies further strengthened to discreminate an efficient feeder, and the one adding to the fertility of the soil. The values of correlation coefficients also supported the responsiveness of these caterpillars to the variation in the environmental conditions.