NOTES AND OBSBBVATIONS. 113 



little variable in colour, with the basal segment red or black or 

 red and black ; the size runs from 5 mm., with terebra 6 mm., 

 to 14 mm., with terebra 15 mm. 



Diastephanus rothkirchi, Schulthess. 



Diastephanus rothkirchi, Sch., * Deut. Ent. Zeit ,' iii, 1914, 

 p. 283, ? . 



Described from the Cameroons. A very typical female was 

 captured at Mlanje in Nyassaland on January 2ad, 1914, by 

 S. A. Neave (Imp. Bureau Entom.). 



Diastephanus togensis, Stadelmann. 

 Stephanus togoensis, Stad., * Entom. Nachr.,' 1895, p. 80, 



Stepha?ius togoensis, Enderlein, * Arch. f. Nat.,' Ixvii, 1901, 

 p. 202. 



A female of this species, from the same source, was also 

 taken by Neave at Mount Mlanje in Nyassaland on December 7th, 

 1912. It was described from Bismarkburg, where Conradt found 

 it first in 1893. 



NOTES AND OBSEKVATIONS. 



Notes on the Larva of Daphnis nerii in India. — The occur- 

 rence of tbis moth, and especially of its larva, is so rare in England, 

 that I think the following notes on the species in India may be of 

 interest. I have found the larva feeding on oleander (Nermm 

 odorum) at Bannu, N.W.F. Province, in the Murru foolhills, Punjab, 

 and at Eae Bareilly, U.P., and it is widely distributed over other 

 parts of India. I kept twenty larvae which I found at Eae Bareilly, 

 and obtained ten moths from them. 



The egg is spherical and light yellow in colour, laid singly on the 

 food-plant. 



The larva passes through five distinct stages, during which there 

 are some curious changes. First stage, up to about three weeks old : 

 Horn long, straight, and black. Body uniform yellowish-green, 

 turning after a few days to green. The young larva feeds on the 

 tender shoots, and when resting lies along the midrib of a leaf, in 

 which position it is very difficult to find. Towards the end of this 

 stage a double ocellus, white, edged with black, appears on each side 

 of the third body-segment, the legs turn pink, and a yellow lateral 

 stripe appears on each side. There are several changes of skin. 

 Second stage, up to about five weeks old; Horn green, thick for half 

 its length, ending in a long point. There is a black ring about half 

 way up the horn. Head and body apple-green. The legs turn red, 

 spiracles black, and nearly all the final markings appear in miniature. 

 The double ocelli gradually coalesce, and turn blue with a dark edge. 

 SNTOM. — MAY, 1917. K 



