802 
LIPHYRA. By Dr. K. Grunberg. 
brassolis. 
major. 
The butterfly of Liph. brassolis deposits its eggs, singly or by twos, on Sarcocephalus cordatus; accor¬ 
ding to Dodd, however, on such trunks on which there are colonies of the green leaf-ant (Oecophylla smaragdina). 
The egg deviates from those of nearly all the Lycaenidae, it only resembles that of the Gerydinae- genus Logania. 
It is rather large, green, dusted with white, and looks nearly like the segment of a Doric pillar. On the top 
there is a hexagonal network; sides with about 45 longitudinal ribs anastomosing here and there. The larva 
in its shape somewhat reminds us of that of certain Limacodidae, such as of the Australian Mecytha infrequens 
Scott not rarely resting on Eucalyptus-leaves near Sydney, or of Narosa adala Moore from India. You might take 
it to be the gall of a leaf, as it represents a hemispherical, smooth knob, having almost the appearance of a 
gigantic shield-louse. Of the segmental indentations there is nothing to be seen anymore from above but three 
daubed transverse folds. Also beneath there are no ring-partitions to be noticed anymore; it offers, however, 
a level or somewhat drawn-in surface in the middle of which there are strongly stunted limbs and an entirely 
hidden head. When the animal pupates, the larval skin remains as a cover over the pupa, which is necessary, 
since the animal lives in ants’ nests and one has observed that the ants attack it; but the shield-like larval skin 
is so tenacions, hard and smooth that the jaws of the attacking ants glide off as on the cuirass of a Cetonia 
aurata or of a Clythra quadripunctata which one throws into an ant-hill and which cannot be harmed by 
the furious ants. — The butterflies of Liphyra creep out after about 3 weeks; they are said to fly during the 
time of dawn, which is also proved by their colouring, their clumsy shape and their flight resembling that 
of certain Hesperids (Ismene) being fond of the time of dawn; others again have observed them flying in the 
sunshine. A slight cover of scales being spread over the forewings and thorax of the butterfly which is in the 
act of creeping out falls to dust, as soon as the butterfly expands its wings. The subfamily is distributed from 
North India across the Malayan Archipelago as far as Australia; the butterflies are rare (Dr. Seitz). 
1. Genus : Iiiphyra Ww. 
The genus Liphyra presumably represents the most primitive type among all the Lycaenids living 
to-day. Confined upon the Indo-Australian range in which many a figure from times past long ago has remained 
preserved, which is very difficult to adapt into the present animal world and which has to a certain degree 
outlived itself, reckoned at all times among the greatest rarities and known only in 2 species, one of which has 
only recently been described, the large, robust Liphyra much rather make the impression of Castniidae than 
of Lycaenidae , among which one is accustomed to see the most delicate day-butterflies. This impression is 
even increased by the dull colours, the marking and the partly quite conspicuously large, broad scales, which 
are so very characteristic in the Castniidae. If we search for near relations among the representatives of families, 
we must place the Liphyra near the genus of Amblypodia. The African genus of Hewitsonia (cf. Vol. XIII, 
p. 359) likewise comprising species of a considerable size is also allied to Liphyra. 
The representatives of the genus Liphyra, which may attain an expanse of wings of more than 80 mm, 
are the largest Lycaenidae living nowadays. The body is very strong, short and compact, the antennae are, 
beginning from the middle, gradually and uniformly thickened to clubs. Palpi slender, slightly bent upwards, 
extending but little beyond the forehead. Forewings with complete neuration, rather broad, costal margin 
faintly bent, apex sharp, almost rectangular, distal margin forming an obtuse angle at the vein 4. Hindwings 
very broad, distal margin very round, circular, costal margin in the C quite rectilinear, angularly defined against 
the distal margin, proximal margin deeply sinuous; under surface at the costal margin and on the basal median 
part covered with very large, broad scales. Legs strong, short and squat. 
Regarding the habits and development see above. The flight is slow, tardy, entirely unlike that of 
day-butterflies. The egg is large, green with a white cover, rather broader than high and truncated coniform, 
costate, at the upper end with regular areas. Holland’s presumption that the larvae are carnivora, is due 
to a rather ingenious and for the present uncontrollable combination. 
L. brassolis Ww. (142 a). <$-. forewings above blackish-brown, the cell and the basal part between 
the veins 2 and 4 more intensely dark, before the proximal margin a long-stretched, broad, arrow-head-like, 
brown-yellow spot extending from the base beyond the middle of the costal margin; at the cell-end a small, 
brown-yellow spot. Hindwings with a grey-yellow costal-marginal part and a brown-yellow median area being 
interrupted by 4 coherent black spots, the marginal part broadly blackish-brown, the proximal margin brownish 
grey. Under surface brownish grey, in the forewing a blackish-brown spot coinciding with the more intensely 
dark coloured part on the upper surface. The scaling of the body is greyish-brown. upper surface of both 
wings reddish ochreous-yellow with a broad, blackish-brown border extending in the forewing as far as the 
middle of the proximal margin, in the hindwing as far as the anal angle; forewing with a prominent black median 
spot of the same shape and extension as in the not reaching the base of the wing nor the dark border; hind¬ 
wings with 3 to 5 black spots on the centre. Distributed from North India across the Sunda Islands to the 
Moluccas. — subsp. major Rothsch. is a form from Queensland, known only in the $ and distinguished by its 
much larger size, with a forewing of upwards of 46 mm length and an especially sharply defined marking; the 
median spot of the forewing being above and beneath marked in the same prominent manner is coherent, the 
