42 



BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



undoubted Eumorphid (sens, lat.) larvae which do not well fall into these 

 groups, and one suspects, therefore, that there are other groups which 

 are fairly distinct in the larval stages from either of them, as there cer- 

 tainly are in the pupal and imaginal stages. Structurally, however, 

 the Eumorphid larvae appear (from those examined) to be very 

 similar, and are particularly characterised by tubercles i and ii, 

 on the meso- and metathoracic segments being placed in trapezoidal 

 position and not closed up on the same subsegment as in the 

 larvae of other Sphingids. This is remarkable, and gives good 

 ground for Bacot ; s contention that the Eumorphids (sens.' lat.) are the 

 most generalised Sphingids in the larval stage, and have a classificatory 

 value equal to all the other Sphingids. His diagnosis (anted, 

 vol. hi., p. 365) reads as follows: 



Dorsal tubercles on meso- and metathoracic segments, set in trapezoidal 

 (or oblong) form, i and ii being- on separate subsegments ; an enlarged 1st subsegment 

 (consisting- of 3 or more of the normal subdivisions) ; the caudal horn not always 

 strongly developed ; the hairs simple, hollow (not bifid). 



The consolidation of iv and v on the 1st abdominal segment into 

 a two-haired oval tubercle occurs in the first larval stadium of Hyles 

 eufihorbiae, and is very remarkable (it may be merely a specific and not a 

 generic or tribal character, although one suspects the latter). The larva 

 of Daphnis has a distinctive form and markings, and the position 

 of the ocellated spot, on the metathorax and not on the abdominal 

 segments, is of importance; its scheme of coloration suggests that 

 it is protectively coloured as a tree- or bush-feeding larva, and not 

 as one feeding on low plants and near the ground, where warning 

 colours are predominant. Still one wants the young larva for detailed 

 comparison. The consolidation of the first three subsegments of the 

 abdominal segments, as one large subsegment, is also remarkable ; 

 it occurs at an early larval stage in Eiunorpha and Theretra, and is 

 noticeable in the later (almost adult) larval stage in Hyles, Celerio and 

 Phryxus. The swollen 1st and 2nd abdominal segments of certain 

 Eumorphid larvae must not be confused with the tumid thoracic seg- 



SESIID LARVA. 



EUMORPHID LARVA. 



Tubercles i and ii on meso- and meta- 

 thorax arising from conjoined base, 

 in 1st stadium. 



Abdominal segmcrts with subseg- 

 ments T-3 not united into an 

 enlarged subsegment. 



Primary sctaj in ist stadium long and 

 large. 



Primary seta," and secondary hairs 

 bifid, in 1st and 2nd stadia. 



Secondary hairs situated on mam mil- 

 iary bases (z=sliagrecn hairs), from 

 the 2nd stadium to full growth. 



i and ii on meso- and metathorax arising 

 from separate bases on separate 

 subsegment*, in 1st stadium. 



Abdominal segments with subsegments 

 1-3 united into an enlarged subseg- 

 ment f. 



Primary setae in 1st stadium short and 

 stumpy. 



Neither primary seta? nor secondary hairs 

 bifid. 



Secondary hairs without (or with only 

 slightly developed) mammillary bases ; 

 pigment round bases frequently 

 markedly developed. 



* This larval character separates the Eumorphids (sens, lat.) from all other 

 Sphingid larvae, and is, therefore, of great importance (Bacot). 



f Varies in different species; it is most marked from the 2nd to the penul- 

 timate stadia in the Eumorphid larvae (sens, strict.), and in the later stadia in the 

 Phryxids (Bacot). 



