108 REV. A. MILES MOSS ON THE 



678, Celeeio ANNKt. (Plates XIV. «-e; XV. r, s.) 



R. & J. p. 726. 

 General Distribution. — Pacific coast, Peru to Valparaiso. 



A restricted and little-known species, though exceedingly common on the coast 

 and on the first range of hills behind Lima, sometimes wandering to the higher Andes, 

 but never obtained from the Interior. The moths at certain times of the year, 

 especially March, literally swarm round the electric arc lamps and are often observed 

 squashed on the pavement. Though it was some time before I was able to trace the 

 food-plant of the larva, I afterwards found it in plenty on Boerhaavia hirsuta, a sticky 

 weed with small pink flowers, growing on dusty commons ; and also on an allied species 

 growing among the rocks on the hills of San Agustin and San Jeronimo. It falls 

 readily from the plant, and often basks on the warm dust when full-grown. Frass 

 of regular hexagonal formation, moderate size, and yellowish green in colour. The 

 moth, even in nature, varies considerably in size in both sexes. 



The pupa generally " stands over " for many months, though sometimes the moth 

 emerges within a few weeks. Puparium a moderate subterranean cavity without 

 any silk. 



Ova. — Singly on under side of leaves of Boerhaavia or Polygonum. Bright green, 

 oval, and rather small. 



Larva. — First instar (unfigured). Very similar to C. I. lineata ; green, with a couple 

 of longitudinal lines and moderately long, thin, black horn. 



Second instar (fig. a). Dorsal area dull green enclosed by yellowish lines with the 

 suggestion of a series of lunules, which are nine in number, and are much more clearly 

 defined in the third and succeeding instars. Llorn a short erect spike, black at the 

 tip, ochreous at the base. Head, legs, and anal portion raw sienna. 



Final instar (figs. b-e). Very variable in colour and intensity of markings as in the 

 previous instar, but v/ithout any essential differences noted. 



Fig. b. Dorsal area olive with raw sienna central stripe, and another below the 

 lunules on either side. Sides cream, inclining to madder in the region of the spiracles. 

 Ventral area olive-green. 



Figs, c, d. Dorsal area bronze-green, with stripes of same colour but deeper, and 

 sides milky green. Claspers cream and red. Lateral area greyish. 



Fig. e. Dorsal area black, everywhere sprinkled with minute light dots, and the 

 medio-dorsal stripe deep Indian-red. Lateral and ventral area ochre and sienna. 

 The nine pairs of lunules are in all cases fundamentally cream-coloured, set in 

 black. 



In some specimens (fig. b) they remain so ; in others (figs, c, d) they are almost 

 wholly clouded with leaden grey ; while in others (fig. e) they are broadly touched 

 with Indian-red. The caudal horn, which is stout, curved, rough, and glossy, is 

 universally deep red; while the head, plate, and hinder portions of anal flap and 



