NOTES ON PINTIA FERREA, ETC. 431 



The venations of the forewing vary considerably in certain individuals. 

 Usually vein 6 is from angle of cell or stalked with 7, 8 and 9. In some speci- 

 mens vein 9 rises from nearer angle of cell than veins 7 and 8, and in others, 

 veins 7, 8 and 9 rise together from one point, i.e., are forked. 



HETERUSIA MAGNIF1CA, Butl. 



This insect might be bred in the same way, from a batch of eggs obtained 

 from a typical pair of the moths, as it is possible that either or all of the follow- 

 ing species (H. edocla, H. virescens, H. cedea) will turn out to be varieties 

 only of H. magnified. Butl. This I definitely hope to find out during the coming 

 year. 



Investigations that I made in Assam and the Duars in 1906, for the Indian 

 Tea Association, with regard to a caterpillar pest of tea, at that time seriously 

 damaging gardens, proved the insect to be Heterusia magnified, Butl. Of the 

 millions of moths collected for destruction there were 3 distinct varieties — the 

 common or typical form has the band of the hind wing dark orange, in another 

 form the band is such a pale yellow that it almost approaches white as in 

 H. virescens, Butl. A third and most noticeable variety has no band to the 

 hindwing, but is entirely black except for 3 or 4 small yellow spots towards 

 the outer margin which is shot with blue as in all the forms. (See plate which 

 shows the 3 varieties, males to the left and females to the right.) 



These were all moths of one species. 



There is another form which has, as in H. eclocld, Doubl., a spot on the under- 

 side of costa of hind wing, and in fact, the underside of the only two specimens 

 that I have of H. edocld, supplied from Sikkim out of Mr. Gr. C. Dudgeon's 

 collection is identical with that of the no-band forms of H. magnified, Butl.. 

 found in Assam, the Duars, Cachar and Sylhet. I also found that the basal 

 black area of the hind wing, differed in size in the banded forms. Intermediate 

 varieties of the band and no-band forms are numerous. The spots also are in 

 some cases very large, while in others almost obsolete. The forewing greatly 

 differs in colour and can be anything from dark green as in H. edocla and 

 virescens to a purple-brown as in H. magnified. 



During the greater part of the year, a period of about 68 days is passed from 

 the time the eggs are laid till moths are produced, the time being distributed 

 as follows : — 



Egg — hatches in 8 to 12 days. 

 Caterpillar — feeding about 5 weeks. 

 Chrysalis — 17 to 21 days. 



Four broods of the insect take place during the year, the moth appearing in 

 January, May, end of July and in October. 



