s. m. (M.), ) An insect somewhat like an ant with a white body and red black head, which attacks young barley, wheat and cotton, grain, peas, mohrí, moṭh, múṇg, máṇh, juwár, bájrá. It has been so named, because it destroys down to the roots. It is said to be caused by excessive dryness and excessive floods and rains. Wheat and barley attacked by it are supposed to be cured by irrigation, but no cure is known for the other crops:—Multán dá Sáwan, Leia dá Karm, Jhaṇg dá Múlá. Multan got Sáwaṉ (the rainy month), Leia got Karam (kindness); Jhang got Múlá (the blight).—Prov. The allusion is to Diwan Sawan Mal, Governor of Multan, his son Karm Narain, Kárdár of Leía, and Múlraj, Kárdár of Jhang. Sawan Mal was famed for his justice, Karam Narain for his liberality and impartiality, Mulraj was notorious for his avarice.