new records of lepidoptera 107 



2. Notes on Rare Species of Lepidoptera in Victoria. 



Division Heterocera. 



Family SPHINGIDAE 



Chromus erotics Cram. 



This hawk moth is apparently very rare in Victoria, less than 

 half a dozen specimens having been collected, and many years 

 having elapsed since the last record. 



A living specimen was forwarded to this Museum from Everton 

 in the north east of Victoria, in March 1947. C. erotus is com- 

 moner near Sydney and Newcastle, and it occurs even more 

 freely further north and near Brisbane. 



It is the finest of the Hawk Moths to be found in Victoria, the 

 f orewings being rich brown in colour, and the hindwings orange. 

 The family Sphingidae is poorly represented in Victoria, three 

 species only being anything like abundant and widely distributed. 



Division Rhopalocera 



Family LYCAENIDAE 



Subfamily Lycaeninae 



Candalides Xanthospilos Hubn. 



The range of this species in Australia is given as from Victoria 



to southern Queensland, though a few specimens have been taken 



as far north as Kuranda near Cairns. Its occurrence in Victoria, 



however, is apparently limited to a few specially favoured spots. 



The late J. A. Kershaw collected several specimens of this 

 species near Lake Tvers over 25 years ago, one other was collected 

 at Cann River by J. Clark in 1928, and in February 1947, more 

 specimens were taken by F. E. Wilson and the author near Lake 



Tvers. 



It is a very common butterfly near Sydney, where it breeds 

 on several species of Pimelea, chiefly P. lini folia. The larvae 

 feed at night, sheltering during the day amongst dead leaves, etc., 

 near the base of the foodplant. The caterpillars are attended by 

 a species of small black ant. In Victoria the foodplant is not 



known. _ 



Family HESPERIDAE 



Subfamily Trapezitinae 



Hesperilla picta Leach. 

 This is another common Sydney butterfly which has extended 

 its range down the south east coast of New South Wales into far 

 eastern Victoria, though it is local and by no means common m 

 the latter State. 



