Symptoms of damage:

• Feed gregariously on the leaves of castor and later spread over to the entire plant
• Cause defoliation, leaving only the midrib and veins

Identification of the pest:

• Larva: slug like, ventrally flat, greenish body with white lines and four rows of spiny scoli tipped red or black
• Adult: green moth with brown band at the base of the forewing

Management:

• The pest should be kept in check by picking the gregarious caterpillars and the cocoons that are found on tree trunks and destroying them