394 SPHINGID^E. 



Key to Subspecies.^ 



Imagines. 

 Abdominal side-patches and band of hind wing [p. 394. 



maize-yellow R. n. nycteris (KolL), 



Abdominal side-patches and band of hind wing [p. 396. 



deep chrome R. n. bifasciata Butl., 



The larvae and pupae of both forms resemble each other 

 so closely that we are unable to construct a key. 



144 a. Rhopalopsyche nycteris nycteris (KolL). (PL X, figs. 12, 

 13, larva ; PL XII, fig. 3, imago). 



Macroglossa nycteris, Kollar, 1848, p. 458, pi. xix, fig. 5 (Kashmir). 



Rhopalopsyche nycteris, Butler, 1877 A, p. 523 (Sylhet ; N. India) ; 

 id., 1886, p. 378 (Murree ; Campbellpore) ; Cotes & Swinhoe, 

 1887, p. 2 (Sikkim ; Khasi Hills ; Shillong ; Kulu) ; Swinhoe, 

 1892, p. 2 (Sylhet); Hampson, 1892, p. Ill, fig. 66 (<J); Dudgeon, 

 1898, p. 417 (Sikkim ; Bhutan, 5,000-10,000 ft.) ; Roths. & 

 Jord., 1903, p. 670. 



Rhopalopsyche nycteris nycteris, Jordan, 1911, p. 254, t. 40/; 

 Seitz, 1929, p. 562. 



Macroglossa volucris, Walker, 1856, p. 94 (Sylhet ; N. India). 



Imago. — $?■ Head, thorax and abdomen greyish -brown, 

 abdomen with maize-yellow side-patches on the first three 

 segments ; the penultimate segment fringed with white ; 

 four lateral tufts increasing in size posteriorly, the first two 

 white, the others black tipped with orange, anal tufts black. 

 Fore wing greyish- brown ; some subbasal indistinct lines, an 

 antemedian band recurved towards base at inner margin ; 

 three postmedian curved lines ; a square brown spot on costa 

 before apex with a black spot below it from which a waved, 

 oblique line runs to apex. Hind wing blackish-brown with 

 a broad, median, maize-yellow band. Expanse : <J 38-42 mm., 

 ? 40-48 mm. 



<J. Tenth abdominal tergite slender, pointed, of the same 

 general form as in Macroglossum ; sternite rounded at end. 

 Clasper without friction-scales ; harpe slender, pointed, 

 somewhat grooved longitudinally on upperside. Penis- 

 sheath with a very long pointed process, curving at least half 

 round the sheath ; base of process projecting, with few 

 teeth, proximal and distal edges of process denticulate ; 

 internal rods obtuse at end, the longer one clubbed, denticulate 

 at one edge. 



Hah. W. and E. Himalayas, Burma and China. We have 

 bred it in the W. Himalayas and the Khasi Hills. Very common 

 wherever the food-plant grows, from about 3,000 to 6,000 feet 

 or higher. 



Egg. — Nearly spherical, surface smooth and shining, colour 

 bright green. 



