PLASTINGimm. 227 



p. 112 (1891). Elwcs, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1892, p. 657. Watson, id. 1893, p. 124; id. Jouni. l!o. 



Nat. Hist. Soc. ix. 1895, p. 435. Elwes and Edwards, Trans. Zool. Soc. 1897, p. 235. 



Adamson, Trans. N. H. Soc. Northumberland, etc. 1908, p. 144. Friibstorfer, Iris, 1911, 



p. 19. 

 Eesperia iram, Plotz, Stett. ent. Zeit. xliii. p. 328 (1882). 

 Ecsperia hi/pa'jja, Hewitson, Descr. Hesp. p. 25 (1868). 



Imago. — Male. Upperside dark chocolate-brown. Forewimj with the apex paler, 

 the base slightly tiDted with ochreous, and with five semi-hyaline yellowish spots, a 

 large quadrate spot with excavated sides at the end of tlie cell, a similar-sized some- 

 what oval spot below its outer end in the first median interspace, a smaller spot below 

 the last in the second median interspace, a similar spot below, almost in a line with 

 them in the intcrno-median interspace, a little beyond its middle, a small spot (some- 

 times two small spots) in a line with the discal spots, near the costa. Hindiviivj 

 without markings. Cilia of both wings brown. Underside. Forewing with the costal 

 area above the cell and the apical third of the wing pinkish-ochreous-brown, much 

 paler than the rest of the wing, which is blackish-l)rown, nearly black ; the spots as 

 on the upperside, and two or three indistinct brown dots towards the apex in 

 continuation of the apical series. JI/juhviiH/ uniformly coloured like the apical j^ortiou 

 of the forewing without any markings, except for indications of some small discal spots 

 in a curved series, not always present. Antennae brown, the shaft mostly pinkish- 

 white on the underside, pure white below the club, the upper half of the club rufous ; 

 palpi, head and body above and below and the legs concolorous with the wings, palpi 

 below tinged with ochreous. 



Female. Upperside much paler than the male and more brown in colour, the 

 costa to end of cell and the upper jDortion of the base more or less sufi'used with dull 

 ochreous, markings as on the upperside ; all the spots larger. Underside as in the 

 male ; body above with dull ochreous hairs, anal tuft dull ochreous. 



Expanse of wings, ^ 2^*^, ? 2jV inches. 



Larva, occurs throughout the year in every following generation, everywhere 

 where the cocoanut palm grows, on the leaves of which the larva feeds. The female 

 always lays the eggs on young leaves, and the larvae are sometimes abundant, so 

 abundant as to do appreciable damage to the palms by devouring all the leaves. Tlie 

 larva is of a dirty green colour with a sub-dorsal black stripe and an ochreous head, 

 and is hidden from view between two leaves of the food plant woven together. 



Pupa reddish-brown. 



The butterflies are on the wing early in the morning and after sunset. In the 

 day time they rest with folded wings in dark places near houses. Once in 1892 all 

 the cocoanut trees near the Manager's house at Namoe Oekor were eaten up by the 

 larvae, and later hundreds of butterflies took shelter during the day in the house. 



2 G 2 



