PL1 Alio MOTHS OF OEYLON. I I 



prolegs rather small, greenish-yellow. The larva feeds on the 

 flowers and seeds of Sopubia trifida." 



In the case of another larva, the 6th and 11th segments bad a 

 round pale spot in (lie purple dorsal si ripe on carl i side of its central 

 darker line. (Plate E, figure .'{.) 



The pupa is long and narrow, of a pair yellowish green colour 

 with a broad purplish red dorsal stripe; the usual white hairs are 

 so short thai I hey are only just perceptible under a lens. The 

 larval skin is discarded entirely and is shrunk up into a minute pellet. 

 The pupa is capable ol' rapid and violent motions in the ventro- 

 dorsal plane, the head being bent backward s < I o isa I ly until it touches 

 the anal extremity. The pupa is suspended head downwards, 

 ventral surface against support. 



Stbnoptilla I'KTiiJiA, Meyr. 

 T. E. S., L907, 504. 

 Distribution. Diyatalawa. The only specimen that I have seen 

 was beaten from a clump (if hushes in a, marshy valley near the 

 Rifle Range on August ID, 1907. 



Originally described from the Palni and Nilgiri Mills in Southern 

 India. 



Observation. — Superficially very similar to zophodactyla, but 

 structurally distinct by the shape ol' the first segment of the fore 

 wings, which is narrower and with lower margin straight- to apex, 

 so that there is no lower angle. This pecularifv is very distinct 

 and striking, once attention is directed to it 



PLATYPTILIA, llh. 

 Synopsis <>j the, Specie*. 

 . C Abdomen as longas dorsum of fore wing., brachymorpha ' ~~ 



v. Abdomen shorter than dorsum of lore wing 2 

 j Pectus and ventral surface of abdomen °f «-~°^A 



2 canary -yellow . . . . .'{ 1-iUMCt^ 

 Pectus and ventral surface of abdomen not 



[ canary-yellow . . . . 4 



I Base of cleft of f.w. is outside of a line 

 J drawn to costa from outer scale-tuft on 



3 i dorsum . . . . citropleura 

 '■ Base of cleft of f.w. is directly over outer 

 i dorsal scale-tuft . . . . taprobanes 

 J Large scale-tooth on dorsum of third seg- 

 j ment of h.w. is apical or nearly so . . pusillidactyla 

 I Large scale-tooth on dorsum of third seg- 

 ment of h.w. does not reach beyond § . . molopias 



Note. — I have seen no specimens of P. direptalis, YVlk., and 

 from the descriptions only I am unable to separate it from P. molo- 

 pias, which latter is a mo I variable 3pecies. 



I U+t M<* 





