<8 BURMA, ITS VEOrLE AXD PRODUCTIOyS. 



Famih/ Limacodidse. 



SCOPELODES UXICril.OU, Wcstw. Tic'Ilgul. 



,, VKXosA, Walk. Silliot. 



MrRKSA ALBIPCXCTA, H. Scliosff. Daijiliiig. 



,, eASTAXEii'Aits, Moore. Darjiliii<!;. 



Caxdyka punctata, Walk. Central India. Bengal. 



Belyoraa suhnotata, Walk. 



LiiiACODEs eetraciata, AValk. Darjiling. 



,, apicalis, Walk. Silliet. 



Teisula tariegata, Moore. Hengal. 



The lai-va feeds on Ficim rcligiosa. 



MiBESA BEEviLixEA, Walk. Darjiliug. 



Chilena smiLis, Walk. 

 Ntssia herbifeka, Walk. 



,, LATIFASCIA, Walk. 



Parasa lepiba, Cram. Bengal. 



Limacodes graciosa, Westw. 



The larva feeds on Eugenia and Mangifera (Grote). 



„ PUNICA, Boisrl. Silhet. 



,, Isabella, Moore. Bengal. 



The larva feeds on S/iorea rohusta. 



,, LULEANA, Moore. Calcutta. 



The larva feeds on Amoora rohituka, Ixora longijiora and Mussendci froiidosa (Grote). 



,, nakaria, Moore. Calcutta. 



The larva feeds on a species of Crescentia. 



,, TTXicoLOE, Moore. Calcutta. 



The larva feeds on Ochna squamosa (Grote). . 



The larvae of this genus construct their cocoon in the form of a hard smooth 

 oval capsule, affixed to the trunks of mango and other trees, opening at one end 

 by a circular lid or segment. The larvae are bright coloured and armed with spines, 

 which simulate the adornments of some forms of marine nudibranchiate moUusks. 

 Many (if not all) of them are armed with poisonous organs capable of producing 

 severe pain, and perhaps even dangerous results. Dr. Templeton describes the 

 larva of P. lepida as "stinging with sireh horrible pain, that I sat in the room 

 almost sick with it, and Tinable to keep the tears fi-om running down my cheeks for 

 more than two hours, applying ammonia all the time." 



I have myself suffered severely from my ignorance of the powers of this 

 handsome caterpillar, and believe that the stinging organs are extremely short black 

 hairs, wliich are arranged as four velvet-black spots on its posterior extremity, 

 which spots on examination are found to be hntshes (so to speak) of closely packed 

 hairs. On entering into the chrysalis state these hairs are disposed loosely round 

 the mouth of the cocoon, and retained there by a flimsy web, and doubtless serve as 

 an efficient protection against pi'ying intruders. Examining one of these freshly 

 formed capsules, I got some of these minute hairs on my iingers, where they 

 attracted no notice, but incautiously drawing my fingers across my nose, I was 

 almost prostrated by the sufferings which their contact with a sensitive mucous 

 membrane gave rise to. The effect was a violent running at the nose and eyes, 

 pain in the frontal region, and great irritation and inflammation of the fauces and 

 throat. These symptoms lasted some hours, and I can quite imagine tliat fatal 

 results might accrue to a child or weakly person, if badly stung. The larvae of this 

 genus are polyphagous, attacking the leaves of the most diverse plants and trees, e.g. 

 Eugenia, Mangifera, Ricinus, Ochna, Crescentia, Bamlusa, Shorea, Annona squamosa, 

 Pyrus, etc. 



