MORPHIDAE. By H. Stichel. 155 



5. Family: Morphidae. 



The family of the Morphids or Giant-Butterflies is composed of a number of modifications of the 

 Satj'rid tj'pe of rather unequal value. The various groups here placed show hardly anj' closer affinities to 

 each other than to the true Satyrids, which was the reason why E. Haase united them with the American 

 Brassolids and the true Satyrids to one large division, which he called the Satyrimorphae. The 

 genus iforpJio in particular, from which the family derives its name, is very remote from those Asiatics 

 which are being classified as "Morphids". The genus Morpho is purely American and contains delicate 

 butterflies with enormous wings, flying exclusively in day-time, their exterior being adapted to a life in the 

 hottest sunshine. The magnificent blue gloss, which does not recur anywhere among the Lepidoptera in such 

 brilliancy, the flight-time between 9 o'clock in the morning and 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the flight along 

 the sunny side of the roads in the woods or on hills-sides fully exposed to the sun, are characteristics in 

 which the Morphos contrast sharply with the shade-loving, partly even nocturnal, dark-coloured Ainathusiinue 

 and Brassolidae. In its primitive neuration and the lesser specialization in the structui'e of the head the genus 

 Morpho is of a more ancestral type, while it possesses on the other hand in the habit of its furry caterpillars 

 to feed on Dicotyledons a characteristic according to which the Morphos appear to be the more advanced 

 group. Quite a number of excellent systematists, like HERKicH-ScnAFFER, Bates and Burmeister, did not 

 know how to do better than placing the genus Morpho with the Nymphalids. A satisfactory solution, however, 

 was impossible for the simple reason that the Morphids as then conceived were not a homogeneous group. 

 Reuter even found that the genus Bia, which stands among the Satyrids — some authors, as Westwood and 

 Lucas, even placed it among the Nymphalids — has close affinities to the Morphids. 



We should have cut this Gordian knot by suppressing the collective name ''Morphidae" and thus 

 have avoided this dilemma in systematics , if we did not wish to abstain from any alteration of the current 

 classification as long as we are not able to put definite facts in the place of the present hypotheses. We 

 retain therefore the old designation Morphidae for the family, but emphasize that it is impossible to give a 

 common definition which is more than an enumeration of characters of a general satyroid nature. As regards 

 the Asiatic "Morphids" in particular the descriptions of the groups will be found under the various subfamilies. 



A. Subfamily: Amathuslinae. 



Body and neuration not particularly strong as compared with the size of the butterflies, but usually well 

 proportioned. Size of the wing varying, their outline rather diverse, but simple in the Palaearctic species. As 

 regards the markings, we find in many species a peculiar ornamental marginal pattern, and most members of the 

 family bear on the underside ocelli, which partly resemble or are equal in arrangement to those found in certain 

 Satyrids and American Morphids. The eyes are large, either naked or hairy. The palpi usually ascend a little 

 above the head, being densely scaled and hairy. Antennae of moderate length, commonly less than half the length 

 of the forewing, thin, slightly incrassate towards the apex in the shape of a club or spindle. Forelegs of the cfcf 

 vestigial, the tarsus being one-jointed, while it is spiny and consists of 5 segments in the ?. Cell closed in the 

 forewing, open in the hindwing; subcostal of the forewing five-branched, with the exception of Stichoplithahna, one 

 branch only originating pruximally to the end of the cell. 



The Aniathuslinuc are inhabitants of the woods, flying in high virgin forest as well as in dense shrubs 

 and bushes, bamboo jungle, etc., at any rate preferring shady localities; they are concealed in day-time resting and 

 only become lively at sunset. An exception are the genera Fuiuus, Xanthotaeniu and Taenuris, of which only the 

 first is represented in the Palaearctic Region. The species of these genera are fond of flying about in day-time 

 with a restless and tumbling flight in woods and open places in forests (beds of rivers). All the Aniaihusiinar love 

 to feed on fallen-off aromatic fruit; some species are to be met with at the exuding sap of the suggar-palm (exotic 

 species of Amathusia) or on refuse-heaps in the neighbourhood of human dwellings. The flight of most is at dusk 

 strong and swift, but not continuous. The butterflies settle with the wings closed in bushes or on the ground 

 among dry leaves and are difficult to perceive for the human eye. If disturbed in day-time they flutter away, almost 

 touching the ground, seeking another place of concealment in the undergrowth. Some species are said to spread 

 an agreeable scent which issues from the scent-organ of the hindwing (cT), e. g. Amuthiixidia plateni (exotic) is said 

 to smell like violets, Thamnantis diores (exotic) like Vanilla, and titichophthuhna camadenn (also exotic) like fresh- 

 tanned sable. 



Little is known of the life-history of the Amafhusiinae. To judge from the habits of the well-known 

 representative of the nymotypical genus, Amuthuxiu phidippus (exotic), the larvae feed on Monocotyledons (species 

 of Palms), being gregarious when young. The body of the larva is cylindrical, hairy, bearing an anal fork, the 

 head having 2 horn-like processes. The pupa is suspended, boat-shaped, with 2 horns on the head. 



Until 186.5 the genera which belong here were placed with the Neotropic Morpltidtie s. str. ("Morphids of 

 the Old World" according to Schatz). They have, however, hardly anything else in common with them than some 

 peculiarities in habitus, this external similarity moreover being really distinct only in Stichophthalmu , while other 

 genera form a group of their own {Amathusia, Zenxidia, etc.) and others again recall Satyridae (Faunis, Xuutho- 

 taenia). At any rate, the habits, life-history (as far as known), and the structure of the wings and body deviate 

 so much from those of the true Morphids that F. Moork was quite justified in classifying the Amathu.siinae as a 

 separate unit. Stichki. (1906) divided this subfamily in 2 tribes: Amathusiidi and Taenuridi , representatives only 

 of the first occurring in the Palaearctic Region. 



