142 LIFE-HISTORIES OF GRACILLARIADA 
EPICEPHALA CHALYBACMA, MEYR. (PLATE XXXVI) 1.39 f z) 
Epicephala chalybacma, Meyr., B. J.; XVIII, 811 (1908)(4), Exot. Micr., -I 
21-22 (1912)(?) ; Green, Pr. Ent. Soc., 1912, pp. evii-cix, figs. (1913)(8). 
Originally described from Peradeniya(!), this species has been recorded 
from Pusa(?) and also occurs at Calcutta, Nagpur, Serampore, Coimbatore 
and at Minbu in Lower Burma, and probably wherever Cesalpinia (Poinciana) 
pulcherrima is grown in the Plains of India. 
Larva without prolegs on 10, pale greenish-yellow ; head yellow ; when 
full-grown, with a red band on each of segments 2-12, a red spot on 13 ; feeds 
inside unexpanded flowers of Poinciana pulcherrima (Leguminose), showing 
no outward sign; when full-grown, it gnaws its way out and pupates in a 
white cocoon covered with bubbles, usually on the upper surface of a leaf 
(Fletcher) (2). 
Foodplants :—Poinciana pulcherrima(?), Pithecolobium saman(3). 
“Larva small, but robust, measuring—when extended—about 6 mm. 
It is of a dull, pale, translucent green colour, with an irregular crimson band 
completely encircling each segment ’’(3). 
The egg, which is small, whitish, elliptical in outline and somewhat 
flattened, is laid on the unopened flower-buds of the foodplant, which is usually 
Cesalpinia (Poinciana) pulcherrima, a common ornamental shrub in Indian 
gardens, although this species has been found also on gold mohur (Poinciana 
regia) at Pusa and on the rain-tree (Pithecolobium saman) at Peradeniya. 
The proximal face of the egg is flattened and the distal end rounded, with 
several parallel longitudinal strie. The larva, on hatching, bores into the 
bud and feeds mainly on the stamens and but rarely on the ovary. The 
entrance hole is too small to be noticed and also is probably closed by growth 
of the flower ; at any rate, no outward sign of damage is noticeable, although 
the bud may contain a full-grown larva and be filled with its reddish-brown 
pellets of excrement. The young larva is uniform pale greenish-yellow. When 
full-grown it is about 6 mm. long and 1:3 mm. broad across mid-body, tapering 
in both directions, body segments distinct, skin soft ; head yellow ; other 
segments pale green with a crimson band which is continued, although inter- 
rupted, around those segments which do not possess legs or prolegs; anal 
segment with a dorsal crimson spot ; prolegs only on third to fifth abdominal! 
segments, with the anal claspers. 
When full-fed the larva gnaws its way out of de flower and usually drops 
by a silken thread on to the upper surface of a leaflet, where it forms a most 
curious cocoon, whose upper surface is ornamented with small bubbles. 
Occasionally this cocoon is formed on the lower surface of a leaflet. The 
