ME. G. T. BETHUXE-BAKER : A REVISION OE THE 



Arhopala iiercules (Hewitson). (Plate IV. figs. G & 6 a.) 

 Amblypodia hercules Hewitson, Cat. Lycaenidae B.M. p. 3. n. 11, pi. viii. figs. 92 & 93, J 1 (1862). 

 Arhopala tyrannus Fekler, Reise Novara, Lep. vol. ii. p. 225. u. 217, tab. xxix. figs. 1 & 2, (J 



(1865). 

 Arhopala hercules Hew., Staudinger, Ex. Schmett. p. 280. Taf. xcvi., <J (1888). 

 Arhopala tyrannus Fekler, Staudinger, Ex. Schmett. p. 280. 

 Arhopala hercules var. herculina Staudinger, Ex. Schmett. p. 280. 

 Arhopala in, Druce, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, vol. xiii. p. 251 (1894). 



Hab. Makassar; Java; (?) llalmaheira ; AVaigeoe ; N. Guinea, Humboldt Bay; 

 Gilolo and Ati Ati (N. Guinea). 



Expanse, <?&■§, 62-75 mm. 



This species is the largest and one of the handsomest of the genus, its wing-expanse 

 frequently reaching 75 mm. It has been recorded from many of the Malay Islands, 

 and extends as far as New Guinea, this being apparently its eastern limit. In the 

 figure of the genitalia, I would draw attention to the straight sword-like hook and the 

 peculiar upward extension of the clasp. 



Var. leo Druce. 



Differs from hercules on the under surface in that the colour is hoary and tinged 

 with very pale green, the transverse fascia on the primaries is more broken, and the 

 same fascia on the secondaries is quite broken up beyond the fracture at the lower 

 discal vein, and does not continuously extend to the internal vein. 



This was described by Druce from Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, whence I have 

 several specimens ; it forms an excellent transition to Staudinger's form " herculina " 

 from Waigeoe. 



Var. herculina Stgr. (Plate I. fig. 9.) 



3 . Upper surface blue, brighter with less purple in it than hercules. Under surface 

 with a very slight trace of green on the basal area of both wings, which is often 

 entirely absent, the whole surface being pinkish grey ; the transverse band in the 

 primaries is more or less broken into a continuous chain of spots, not an unbroken 

 band as in hercules. and this also applies to the same band in the secondaries, which 

 furthermore is sometimes fractured between the subcostal and the upper discocellular 

 veins, and at the upper and the lower median veins. At the anal angle there is 

 no metallic scaling as is usual in hercules. 



<? . Brown all over, a shade lighter beyond the discal area of both wings. I have 

 another form brown, with a whitish patch beyond the discoidal cell in the primaries, 

 over which a number of fine pale lavender-coloured scales are very distinctly spread. 

 A third form before me is Staudinger's blue female, which, as he says in his original 

 description, is almost as blue as the male, the apical and costal areas being broadly 

 browD, the expanse of blue equalling that of leo. 



