430 



SOME NOTES ON 

 PINTIA FERREA,W\k.,CYCLOSIA PAPILIONARIS,Drury, 



AND 



HETERUSIA MAGNIFICA, Butl. 



By 

 Chas. B. Antram, 

 Entomologist to the Indian Tea Association. 

 ( With a Plate.') 

 Family — Zygcenidje. 

 PINTIA FERREA, Wlk., and CYCLOSIA PAP1LI0NARIS. Drury. 



That the male and female of certain species of Zygoenid moths find themselves 

 under different names, and even genera, is not, perhaps, very extraordinary 

 when one considers that the classification of many of the Lepidopterous insects 

 has had to be made from single specimens only, instead of from long series 

 showing examples of both sexes. 



With some of the Zygcenidce, in particular, classification has been difficult 

 owing to the great difference in the colour and markings of the wings of the two 

 sexes, and it is only by breeding out the moths from batches of larvae that one 

 can make sure of their relationship. 



From specimens bred of both sexes in the early months of 1905, and again in 

 June 1906, I came to the conclusion that Pintia ferrea, Wlk.. and Cyclosia 

 Papilionaris, Drury, were sexes of one species, but it was only last April that I 

 could confirm this. From a large number of larvae obtained on the 1st Nov- 

 ember 1906 (these pupated in my breeding cages 10 days afterwards), 

 I bred a fairly long series of the moths of both sexes in the following April, 

 several pairs of which immediately copulated. One pair, in particular, was 

 noticed to remain in copulation for 13 hours. Eggs, however, were not laid by 

 the moths in captivity. 



The caterpillars of the 2nd brood are full fed early in July, and at this time 

 of the year the chrysalis stage only lasts some 15 to 21 days as compared with 

 five months during the cold weather. The moths emerge in the early half of 

 August. 



At the time of taking these notes I had quite overlooked an entry by 

 Sir George Hampson in Vol. XVI, p. 193, of this Journal which reads as 

 follows : — 



P. 269. Under Cyclosia insert (Syn.) Pintia, p. 258, 545 Pintia 

 ferrea is the $ of -577. Clyclosia Papilionaeie's and 575, 

 C. nigrescens and 576, C. parvula are varieties. 547. Pintia. 

 Latipennis is the £ of 578. Cyclosia australinda, many 

 specimens of both sexes bred (T. R. Bell). 



