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‘XU. The life-history of Spindasis lohita, Horsf. By 
Joun C. W. Kersnaw, F.ZS. 
[Read March 20th, 1907.] 
PLaTE XXII. 
Tuts pretty Lycenid, also known as S. zebrinus, Moore, is 
common in many localities near Macao and Hongkong, 
and no doubt occurs all over South China, within the 
range of the food-plants of the larva. It is on the wing 
from about March to November inclusive, sometimes 
appearing in dozens at the flowers of certain trees and 
shrubs, though it does not seem to care about other flowers, 
It has an exceedingly swift, erratic flight, and when settled, 
frequently head downwards, is continually working the 
large anal lobes of the hind-wings, hollowing and smoothing 
them, by rubbing the hind-wings together with a see-saw 
motion as it sits with closed wings. It frequents the out- 
skirts of woods and open, bushy ground, where the food- 
plants of the larva grow, and where the trees are in flower 
which attract the butterfly. 
The larval state is the most interesting and singular 
part of the life-history of this Lyczenid, and judging from 
that it would seem to be very nearly allied to the Australian 
genus Ogyris, a very interesting paper on which genus, 
entitled ‘A Monograph of the genus Ogyris,” appeared in 
the Trans, Ent. Soc. for 1905. Much of the information 
therein regarding the larval habits of species of Ogyris 
would apply without alteration to the larva of Spindasis 
lohita. 
The egg is hemispherical or domed, flattened on the 
under-side, strongly reticulated or honeycombed on the 
upper surface. It is laid singly, during the day, into the 
joints of bracts, stems or leaves of the food-plants of the 
larva, or even on adjacent parts of the host-plants. The 
usual food-plant is Henslowia frutescens, Champ. (Nat. Ord. 
Santalacex) a very common trailing or half-climbing shrub 
in this part of Kwangtung, a parasite on the roots of other 
vegetation. The larva also feeds on Loranthus chinensis, 
D.C., and Viscwm orientale, Willd., both Nat. Ord. Loran- 
thacex; the former a common bushy parasite on many trees, 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND, 1907.—PART II. (SEPT.) 
