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XV. Synaposematic resemblance hetween Acraeine larvae. 

 By G. D. H. Carpenter, B.A., B.M. (Oxon.), 

 F.E.S., Member of the Royal Society's Sleeping 

 Sickness Commission. 



[Read October 16th, 1912.] 



When breeding Acraeine larvae I have on several occasions 

 been deceived by the very close likeness existing between 

 larvae of different species. In May 1911, on Damba 

 Island, Victoria Nyanza, I found a company of Acraea 

 larvae, and reared them to maturity. These were sent 

 to Prof. Poulton, who identified them as Acraea terpsi- 

 choQ'e, L. Subsequently I found more larvae which I took 

 to be the same as tlie former. The imagines bred from 

 them were, however, identified by Prof. Poulton as 

 Acraea alicia, E. M. Sharpe. The larvae were light green, 

 shining, with head and legs black, with a transverse row 

 of six rather long spinose spines across each segment, the 

 four central ones being black, the lateral ones green and 

 directed downwards. The pupae also appeared to be 

 similar, but I did not take a written description. 



The second instance is of some interest. 



About the middle of June, 1911, on Damba Island, I 

 found a company of small larvae feeding in the jungle on 

 one leaf of the food-plant which appeared to be a species 

 of nettle, stinging very feebly. I reared them, and the 

 imagines supplied the first epigonic proof that Acraea 

 atciope, Hew., and Acraea aurivillii, Stand., were male and 

 female of the same species. These larvae were dull 

 yellowish, with a lateral line of a more pronounced yellow, 

 above which was a black line ; from the latter, at right- 

 angles, narrow black streaks ran dorsalwards, but not so 

 far as the mid line. Head and leo^s black. Of the six 

 spines on each segment the one on each side arising from 

 the lateral line was yellowish, the rest black. 



About two months later I found another company of 

 similar larvae on a leaf (of the same plant) and reared 

 them. To ray astonishment the imagines were a totally 

 different Acraea, whose name I knew not. Mr. Eltring- 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1912. — PART IV. (FEB.) 



