20 . AUSTEALIAN LEPIDOPTEEA 



EUPLCEA CORINNA, Macleat.— (Plato XVI.) 



Danais corinna, W. S. Macleay, King's Survey Austr., TI., App., p. 402 (1827). 

 Chanapa corinna, Moore, Proc. Zool. >Soc. Loiulon, XIV., p. 299 (1878). 



Fnplaa anyasii, Felder, Reise Novara, Lep., p. 343 (18G7); Ilerricli-Scliallbr, Slott. Ent., Zcit., p. G9, pi. ii., Cg. 7 (1869); Exot. Schniett, II,, 

 fig. 108 (1869). 



Life-History: H. Edwards, Victorian Naturalist, June, 1890, p. 4 (Pupa only). 



We discovered some nearly full grown specimens of this showy caterpillar in March, at Ash Island, Hunter River, feeding 

 upon the Marsdenia suavcolens, a pretty climbing plant of the group Asclopiadeie.* When mature the larva measures 2 J inches in 

 length. It is smooth, cylindrical, and very slightly attenuated at both extremities ; the ground colour as far as the stigmata is shining 

 saturnine-yellow, closely covered with regular transverse black bauds, and relieved occasionally with white on the middle of the 

 segments ; the abdominal portion beneath the stigmata is rich black, with a conspicuous white spot on each segment, the spots 

 over the abdominal feet largest, and each having beneath a small l)and of saturnine-red. Springing from near the centre of the back, 

 on the second, third, fifth, and eleventh segments, are pairs of long, thin, flexible black appendages, those on the second and third 

 segment bending forwards, and measuring .J inch in length ; those on the fifth segment curving gracefully at the tips ; and those 

 on the eleventh segment projecting backwards, somewhat curved and a little shorter; head black, with two white divisional 

 markings. The favourite position of the caterpillar when at rest is with the anterior segments elevated and curved, as shown in 

 the plate; when alarmed it exudes from its mouth a clear greenish fluid. 



The chrysalis is suspended by the tail, is barely 1 inch in length, and is proportionately broad ; the abdominal jiortion 

 somewhat swollen, and the back of the thorax indented. The entire suface is In'illiautly metallic, and reflects external objects 

 with the fidelity of a mirror, and in difi'erent lights it assumes lovely opaline tints, utterly impossible to represent with the bnisli. 

 Our butterllies took wing in April, but as is the case with many of the DanaiJs, an occasional specimen may be seen flying aljout 

 in the winter months. 



In expanse it measures 3| inches. 



The Antennw (fig. 1) thicken very slightly towards the point, which is rather blunt. 



The Labial palpi (fig. 2), rather large, projecting almost as far as the top of the eyes, and thickly covered with elongated 

 scales ; middle joint at least three times as long as basal (fig. 3), terminal joint not quite as long as 

 basal, and blunt at apex. 



The Lajs the anterior pair (fig. 4) small and rudimentary, the tarsus being composed of one club-shaped articulation, 



with several pairs of small hooks at the extremity ; the whole covered with scales. The intermediate and 

 posterior pairs (fig. 5) long, slender, almost naked, with rows of small setoe beneath, and with two small 

 spurs at the apices of tibiae. 



The wings are erect in repose. 



The whole upper surface is silky brownish-black, with a row of large creamy-white irregular patches towards the outer 

 margins of both wings, on the lower wing they are deeply denticulate and are arranged in an almost straight line to the anal 

 angle ; a row of white spots follow the outline of the margins, and on the costa and discoidal cell of upper wing are a few scattered 

 white spots, while a short silvery semi-diaphanous streak is placed not far from the base of the upper wing, near the disc ; head 

 blackish-brown, with rows of small white spots on front, between the eyes, and on the collar ; abdomen blackish-brown ; margins 

 whitish. The under surface is bronze-brown, darkest in the centre of upper wing, with markings disposed as above, but on the 

 disc of the lower wing are several additional small white spots, and there are numerous white spots on the chest above the legs ; 

 palpi and legs black and white ; abdomen banded with creamy-white. 



The caterpillar, chrysalis, and upper and under views of the ])uttcrfly are given, with Marsdenia suavcolens in flower and seed. 



*[In February, 1890, I observed a female Euplwa corinna depositing her eggs on the young lea\ es of a vine of Mandevilla suaveohns, growing near 

 Darling Point, Sydney. The eggs were rather conical, yellow, and placed singly on the leaf. The young larva' when lirst hatched were greenish yellow and had 

 rows of small dark spines, which disappeared after the first change of skin,' and were replaced by the eight long filamentous appeudaKes, which they kept until 

 maturity.— H.F.] ./ o b hi- 6 . J y 



