SPHliYG-ID.E Oi' PEEU. l05 



but only a visitor iu the temperate and cold northern and southern districts. Apparently 

 everywhere in Central and South America. 



So far as the seaboard is concerned, this species is very spasmodic in appearance, 

 the moth in all cases but one in my experience being attracted to electric light, and 

 none were taken in 1908. Both sexes undoubtedly fly over the Andes from the 

 Interior, where alone the food-plant of the larva, a species of Ampelopsis, grows. It is 

 little short of marvellous how this delicate green moth can fly so far, and yet, in the 

 majority of cases, arrive in perfect condition. I saw a specimen intercepted in its 

 westward flight by the lights of Cerro de Pasco at 14,000 feet, while another was taken 

 in perfect form on the shore-rocks of Ancon, twenty miles north of Lima, and far 

 removed from the limits of vegetation. The larvse found near La Merced were mostly 

 stung by Diptera and once by a hymenopterous parasite. Frass (fig. e) very long, 

 greenish black, hexagonal, but often twisted and misshapen. Puparium a sub- 

 terranean cavity. The pupa, like P. fasciatus, is delicate and often dies. 



Ova. — On Ampelopsis, never observed on grape-vine, whether wild or cultivated. 

 The free use of the word " vine " in foreign lands, as applied to all sorts of creepers, is 

 highly misleading. 



Larva. — First iiistar. Unobserved. 



Second instar. Unfigured, but, so far as I remember, similar in colour and markings 

 to the third stage, and with an erect tail twice as long in proportion to its size. 



Third instar (figs, a, b). Rich vinous-brown, much freckled with minute longi- 

 tudinal touches of deeper colour. Dorsal area darker and clearly defined in zigzag 

 pattern. The customary oblique stripes are replaced by six broad lozenge-shaped 

 marks of bright emerald-green on the sides of segments 6 to 11 inclusive. These 

 stand out most brilliantly in their dark brown setting, and resemble small inverted 

 pears, the stalk portion being directed towards the anal aperture. The head is 

 dark, small, and round, and with the three leg-segments retractile, segment 5 being 

 enormously swollen to receive them when at rest (cf. fig. a). This is adorned with an 

 irregular dark ocellus in a light setting, situated on either side in continuation of the 

 six green lozenges, and giving it the most formidable snake-like appearance. This 

 efiiect is enhanced by a highly specialised form of tail, which consists of a delicate pink 

 filament, similar to those known in Cerura vinida, but not sheathed and retractile as 

 with the Cerura genus. More remarkable, however, and even unique, is the 

 extraordinary power of rapid agitated movement which this larva can display in its tail 

 when disturbed. Normally the tail stands erect, but curling and being easily bruised it 

 loses much of its electric agility. Immediately in front of this on segment 12, as the 

 termination of a thin black medio-dorsal line, is a small hard wart or hump. 



Fourth instar (fig. c). The strange tail-like appendage is retained, though looking 

 less fresh in its pink colour, and in declining vigour tending to curl and become 

 obsolete. The six green lozenges are also less brilliantly green, though still clearly 

 VOL. XX. — PAKT II. No. 5. — Aj)ril, 1912. p 



