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PITHECOPS. By H. Fruhstorfer. 
11. Genus: Pithecops Horsj. 
The Pithecops form one of the most natural group of forms and are undoubtedly the most easily 
recognizable among all the Lycaeninae, and above and beneath excellently characterized. The snow-white 
under surface highly contrasts with the sometimes coal-black, sometimes sapphire-blue upper surface; only 
in one species the white ground-colour is predominant also above. In a similar way as the Castaliinae, all the 
Pithecops exhibit besides a characteristic mark only appartaining to them : a remarkably large, black punctiform 
spot at the costal margin of the hindwing beneath. Almost just as characteristic as the quite unique mutation 
of the internal organs are the structural conditions of the Pithecops. These do not only vary from one species 
to the other, but if the vicarious forms hylax-plioenix-dionisius are considered as the radiations of one ground- 
form (what we are fully entitled to), even within the species themselves. These variations were already observed 
by former authors and led to the establishment of a collateral genus „Eupsycliellus“ . The latter is even parti¬ 
cularly remarkable, because the variation of the veins is exhibited on the hind wings which are otherwise unvariable 
by the middle discocellular being shortened, because the anterior and posterior radials are close together. Another 
species, zalmora, scarcely differing from hylax in the colouring and chiefly distinguished by shorter wings, shows 
the first subcostal of the forewing separate, on which account it was denominated as ,,genus Neopithecops '‘, 
in contrast with Pithecops with a partial anastomosis of the two costal veins. With Neopithecops (1884) must 
also be eradicated the genus Papua Bob. which was introduced by the same motives. We thus find again the 
Lycaenoul and Everid neuration united in the same genus. By the former there are relations established to the 
Spalgis which besides seem to be related with the Pithecops by another, perhaps more important mark: the 
monkey-face exhibited by the pupae of Pithecops as well as those of Spalgis, for which reason Horsfield selected 
the name Pithecops. 
According to Courvoisier’s examinations, androconia are absent in the three species of Pithecops 
as well as in the group of forms Neopithecops. As there are neither amy in the ,,genera“ Spalgis, Taralca 
and Megisba, the close relations of these groups of species to each other are also affirmed and established by 
this negative evidence. Like most of the Lycaeninae, also the Pithecops are subject to the influence of the seasons 
exhibited by increased white patches on both wings above in the specimens of the dry period, which is naturally 
most conspicuously shown in continental forms. 
The Pithecops are stupid sylvan lepidoptera, wanting in energy, feeble on the wing, flying not far above 
the ground, which peculiarity is at once noticeable when they show their white under surface or when they 
disappear like goblins, only the dark upper surface appearing. They are fond of the lowlands, although some 
species (fulgens, hylax) rise to the foothills. They are distributed from India and South China to Australia 
and from Ceylon to the Salomons. 
The larva is since Horsfield 1828 known to live on Leguminosae, the pupa was figured by him, too; 
it is very short and stout, light ochreous with darker brown patches distinctly showing a monkey-face. 
Piepers in his work on the Javanese Rhopalocera, unfortunately took Pithecops hylax and zalmora 
to be one species, but on t. 20 he figures both species as 29 a and b. The figure b refers to P. zalmora. 
But as P. hylax represents the more common species in Java, Piepers’ statements in the text will probably 
refer to P. hylax. On this supposition the larva of P. hylax is found on katja piring (Gardenia florida L.). It 
appears in all shades of green with a more or less distinct brown dorsal stripe; some larvae are quite brown 
in their advanced stage. The small pupa is likewise green, with a lighter ventral part, but sometimes it also 
discolours into a very dark extreme. A pupa of the 21st- of March yielded the imago on March 27th, another 
of April 27th the imago on May 4th. 
A. Group of forms: Pithecops Horsj. 1828 (Eupsychellus Bob. 1892). 
Subcostal of forewing either disappearing in the costal or crossing it. 
P. hylax. Nomenclatural form from ,,India orientalis“. Pupa figured by Horsfield in 1828. Larva 
on a Leguminosa only described by Piepers in 1918. Plying throughout the year. In high forests and also 
in young woods where remnants of former jungles are left. In the shade the collector easily loses sight of the 
hylax, but they are immediately noticed again when a straying sunbeam lightens their passage (Martin). The 
few races of this constant species are beneath easy divisible into two groups, because the submarginal line 
may be either reddish-yellow (Continent, Sumatra, Borneo) or black (Java, Philippines, Micromalayana). —- 
nihana. a) Small submarginal band reddish-yellow, nihana Mr. Described from Hainan; presumably Formosan specimens 
may be united with it. Above in the disc less light than in S ikk im-specimens, otherwise scarcely any difference. 
hylax. Hainan, Formosa. — hylax F. Above brownish-black, beneath as in corvus (154 e). From Sikkim to Burma 
