86 METAMORPHOSES OF 



Subfam. Acr (Bines. 

 XV. — AcRiEA Pellenea. 



Actinote Pellenea, Hiibner, Zutr. Exot. Schmett. fig. 741-2 



(1832). 

 Larva, a, Full-fed. San Paulo, March, 14, 1878. 



The caterpillars feed on several composite plants, and are 

 very plentiful at certain times of the year. They are social 

 in their younger stages, living in a cluster on a loose web. 

 In the last two stages they are not exactly social, but may be 

 found in great quantities on the same plant. The general 

 appearance of the caterpillars is much the same in all the 

 stages. The spines do not appear to have urticating pro- 

 perties. The caterpillars are very hardy, and I have often 

 noticed them covered with hoar-frost in the early mornings 

 in August and September. There appear to be two distinct 

 broods in the year, but the period of any stage extends over 

 a considerable time. 



Pupa, a, Full-fed, Mar. 1 ; Imago, Mar. 13, 1878 = 12 days. 



When full-fed the caterpillar suspends itself by the "tail " 

 to the underside of a leaf or the coping of a wall or other 

 shelter, and there undergoes pupation. (See fig. 7, plate IV.) 



Imago, a, h. 



Specimens full-fed 28th February, 1878, changed March 

 1st, and the butterflies appeared on March 13th. This fly is 

 one of the commonest in the neighbourhood of San Paulo ; 

 sometimes the air quite swarms with them. 



LXXXII. — AcRTEA Alalia (Variety). 

 Acrcea Alalia, Felder, Wien. Ent. Monats. iv., p. 105 (1860). 



Larva, a, Full-fed. San Paulo, Jan. 16, 1881. 



The caterpillar was found on a large leaf, like that of the 

 horse-radish, growing in a swamp. 



