>m 



SPHINGIDJE. 



(Fig. 11 A-C, geni- 



4. Megacorma obliqua obliqua (Walk, 

 talia) . 



Macrosila obliqua, Walker, 1856, p. 208 (Ceylon). 



Diludia obliqua, Butler, 1877 A, p. 614 (Ceylon) ; Moore, 1882, p. 4, 



pi. lxxiv, fig. 2. 

 Megacorma obliqua, Roths. & Jord., 1903, p. 15. 

 Megacorma obliqua obliqua, Seitz, 1928, p. 528, t. 60 b. 

 Sphinx nestor, Boisduval, 1875, p. 113 (Himalayas, $). 

 Pseudosphinx discistriga (non Walk.), Hampson, 1892, p. 105. 



Imago. — Has been confused with Psilogramma menephron 

 fay Hampson and other authors, though recognized as dis- 

 tinct by Walker in 1856. Can be distinguished at once from 

 P. menephron by : (1) the second segment of the palpus 

 being impressed, the cavity covered by a roof of long scales, 

 while in P. menephron it is not sunken or only slightly concave, 

 and is normally scaled, with a naked streak on the inner 

 surface ; (2) by the abnormally long thorax and by the heavy 



C. 



Fig. 11. — Megacorma Roths. & Jord. Genitalia. 



A, M. obliqua (Walk.), 10th segment, dorsal aspect ; B, harpe ; 



C, vagina] plate. 



black streak under and along R 1 of the fore wing reaching 

 the outer margin. Expanse : £ 122 mm., $ 142 mm. 



<£$. Tenth abdominal tergite (fig. 11 A) resembling in a 

 dorsal view that of Herse convolvuli, more slender in a lateral 

 view, gradually narrowed to a point. Clasper sole-shaped, 

 rounded-dilate dorsally before end, ventral margin oblique ; 

 harpe (fig. 11 B) with a broadly sickle-shaped distal process 

 which points dorsad and is armed at the rounded ventro- 

 distal edge with long suberect teeth, the most proximal 

 tooth broad ; spines of clasper near harpe longer than in the 

 species of Herse. Penis-sheath unarmed externally, as broad 

 as in Herse. 



Hab. E. Himalayas, Ceylon and Burma ; also occurs in 

 Malaya. Has a wide range, but is apparently rare. Early 

 •stages unknown. 



