232 AOHERONTIA. By T)r. K. Jordan. 



les at the base; the (rue pulvillus is absent, and the paronychium reduced to form a short stumpy lobe on each 

 side. Subcostal 4 of forewing downcurved distally, therefore terminating in the outer margin; the upper 

 scales of the forewing broad, ^vith many teeth, those of the hindwing longer and partly piliform. Clasper of 

 the (^ on the outer side Avith a patch of large multidentate friction-scales; harpe short, with two teeth. 

 — Egg greenish or slightly bluish. Larva at first whitish, in the later stages usually green, but also often yellow 

 or greyish brown; from segment 4 onward with oblique stripes, which, especially in light specimens, are edged 

 with yellow and blue and standout sharply, but on the other hand are les sconspicuous in brown specimens. The 

 colour of the larva depends often on its food. Horn of yoimg larva straight and about half as long as the 

 body, later on much shorter, roughly granulose, and curved in S-shape. Pupa smooth without prominent 

 tongue-case, in the ground m a moderately hard cell. Food-plants: particularly Solanaceae, but also many 

 other families. The moth, when disturbed, emits a rather loud sound (also the moth in the pupa) which recalls 

 the stridulation-.sounds of other insects; it is not produced by friction, but by the ejection of air through 

 the tongue. This chirping noise is known also of some other species of Sphingidae aseTnanophorae, e. g. Coelonin 

 fulvinotata, Pseudoclanis postica, Langia zenzeroides. 



The three species are essentially tropical, but all extend beyond the southern boundary of the Pale- 

 arctic Region, two of them (atropos and styx) being found far to the North. The moths are good fliers and wander 

 far from their homes. They come to the light and also visit flowers, and in their localities are as a rule abun- 

 dant. In markings tlieyare very much alike, and as the African-European "Death-Head moth" is so well known 

 we confine ourseh^es to the description of the differences of the three species. With the exception of the 

 tongue, Acherontia is very closely allied to the African genus Coelonia in all stages. 



lachesis. A. lachesis F. (= morta Hbn., satanas Bdv., lethe Westw., circe Moore) (36 a). Hindwing with large 



black basal area, which is absent in the other two species. Antemiae longer than in atropos, and in the $ distinctly 

 slenderer than in the $ of that species. Hai-pe of 5* with two parallel hook-shaped teeth. The larva initil 

 the last change of skin green, with black markings, more rarely brown, the three anterior segments yellow 

 without markings; the dark, yellow edged, lateral oblique stripes continued in a bluish colour until they meet 

 dorsally. Pupa bright dark reddish broAvai. — Distributed from India to the Moluccas and known northward to 

 Northern dliina. Quite as variable as atropos. 



atropos. A. atropos L. (= solani Oken, sculda Kirhij, atropus Strains, tfc Schuck.) (36 b). Hindwmg without 



black basal area. Underside of abdomen with black transverse bands at the bases of the segments. Antennae 

 shorter than in the other species, especially in the $. Tibiae also somewhat shorter, the middle tibia shorter 

 than the first segment of the tarsus; fore tarsus exteriorly with numei'ous spines, which form more than one 

 row on segments 2 and 3. The species is distributed over the entire Ethiopian Region, and in the Palearctic 

 Region goes westward as far as the Azores, northward to the Shetlands and Lofotes, and eastward to Northern 

 Persia and Transcaucasia. In the northern districts it is only a chance visitor, appearing almost annually in the 

 summer, without establishing itself. In North and Central Europe also atropos has not yet settled perma- 

 nently. The moths appearing in the autumn are usually unfertile, this being also the case in many other 

 moths which normally only emerge after hibernation, atropos has only become common in Europe since the 

 introduction of the potato. The larva is sometimes iiifested by Tachinids, but seems to be still avoided by 

 European Ichneumonids. Specimens from Tropical and Southern Africa, Madagascar, etc., do not differ 

 from European ones. In a migratory species like this the breaking up into local races is impossible. But 

 the moth varies considerably individually, and the following names have been introduced for specimens 

 obsolela. differing from the average. In ab. obsoleta Tutt the death-head mark is more or less completely absent. The 

 imperfecta, black median band of the hinchving is absent in ab. imperfecta Tutt, in ab. conjuncta Tutt, however, it is 

 '^"cxtew! ^° much widened that it is confluent with the submarginal band. In ab. extensa Tutt the latter band is ex- 

 /toyescois. tended to the margin. In ab. flavescens TitM the ground-colour of the himh\ing is pale yellow. In ab. variegata 

 variegaia. Tutt the black dusting of the fore^^ing is nearly confined to two bands which correspond to the bands of tlie 

 hindwmg, while the rest, like the dorsal stripe of the abdomen, is more or less whitish. Specimens which differ 

 v'mjata. from ordinary ones especially in the more distinct whitish lines of the forewing are ab. virgata Tutt. In 

 euffusa. ab. suffusa Tutt the Mdngs and body are irrorated with dark, so that the markings appear suffused, and the 

 intermedia, yellow colour of the hindwing and abdominal spots is suppressed to a great extent, ab. intermedia TuU 

 are specimens with distinct whitish transverse markings on the forewng, which are not, however, visible 

 charon. to the hind margin as in virgata. In ab. charon Closs the black discal band of the hindwing is anteriorly 

 forked in consequence of the development of yellow spots in the band. — Larva similar to that of lachesis; also 

 very variable both in the brown and green forms ; the former usually Avith less markings, in the latter the first 

 three segments usually bright yellow. Pupa very dark brown. 



A. styx. The death-head mark narrower in front than in the preceding species and laterally less dark. 

 The abdomen ventrally bears a median row of black spots instead of transverse bands. The antennae are longer 

 and slenderer than in atropos. The foretarsus has fewer spines exteriorly than in atropos and lachesis. The 

 hind tibia is as long as segments 1 to 3 of the hind tarsus, while in atropos it only equals segments 1 and 2 



