ZIZERA. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
925 
white spots in the band beneath are more distinct (= khasia, khasiana Swh.) which, moreover, may also vary 
in specimens from Ceylon. — The white spots in the distal band form a very distinct chain in assamica Fruhst. 
(145 k) from Assam, which presumably hardly differs from khasiana, but here the white spots are enlarged 
also in the distal part of the forewing and flown together into a band, so that the under surface looks more 
speckled. —• annamitica Fruhst. (145 k) on the contrary has the small white spots of the distal bands reduced 
and-black punctiform spots strewn into the rust-coloured band of the hindwing beneath. — Larva, shaped like 
a wood-louse, but very much rounded and hunched, with a small, retracted head and a flat terminal segment. 
Dull whitish pink, across the dorsum rows of black dots, covered with fine, soft, whitish fluffy hair. It feeds 
in the interior of the fleshy leaves of Bryophyllum calycinum which it only leaves when pupating; the pupa 
rather much resembles the larva. The imagines are insects very fond of shade, preferring to fly about on damp 
forest-roads in a slow, somewhat flapping flight, always near the ground, and they dislike so much to leave the 
shade that they mostly turn back at the places where the road is sunny. They are very easily captured. 
26. Genus: Zizera Mr. 
This genus is likewise a group of lepidoptera which is too little consolidated as to be inserted into a 
solid scheme. Nevertheless the habitus of its species differs so much from that of the other Lycaenids 
that scarcely any of the forms reckoned among the Zizera can be mistaken. Its grouping is still a matter of 
opinion, which is manifested by the fact that some do not even want it to be acknowledged as a genus, 
whilst others again divide it into several others. Chapman, for instance, distinguishes the Zizeeria (with the 
type karsandra) from the Zizina (type labradus ) and the Zizula (type gaika). On the whole, we only say here 
that the only Central European species — minima ■— deviates somewhat further from its allies in the habitus, 
and that the East Asiatic argia is somewhat more closely allied to the genuine Lycaena of the liylas- group 
(Scolitantides p. p.) 
The Zizera are small, slim lepidoptera with bare eyes, rounded hindwings, without tails, without a 
prominent anal eyespot and without a honey-coloured or metallic spot. The forewing is long, already at the 
base rather broad, with an obtuse apex and rounded margin; in the veins the genus is not homogeneous. As 
most of the species occur in the Indian as well as palearctic region, we refer to Vol. I, p. 294 to 296 where 
most of the forms habe been briefly characterized. 
Z. lysimon Hbn. (153 c). The form was also figured in Vol. I, and dealt with there at large (comp, 
p. 295). This lepidopteron being also at home in Southern Europe is spread across the whole of Western and 
Southern Asia, to - the east it even proceeds beyond the whole southern part of Eastern Asia, extending to the 
south as far as Southern Australia, and in Africa as far as the Cape of Good Hope. The insects vary individually 
and also according to the season. — The Indian specimens are generally paler, particularly beneath, and are 
mostly called: karsandra Mr., a name based upon a light, female specimen. -— novae, hollandiae Fldr. was founded 
upon Australian specimens which are partly scarcely separable from South Indians, but which mostly exhibit 
less distinct ringed dots beneath. — mora Swh. is one of those aberrations which are sometimes met with in 
all the Lycaenids with an eyespotted under surface, where single eyespots are extended into small stripes or 
flatly curved bows. Also the African lysimon-iorm has been separated (= knysna Trim.), but in Arabia and 
the sterile districts of North West India there often occur specimens representing a transition from karsandra 
to knysna. As to the evolution and habits of the species we refer to Vol. I, p. 295. 
Z. gaika Trim. (= pygmaea Snell.) (Vol. I, t. 79 c and XIII, 74 e). As to this smallest of all diurnal 
lepidoptera comp. Vol. I, p. 295. It is never found in such great numbers as lysiynon, flying quite close near 
the ground between the grass-blades and being particularly fond of fallow soil on the mountains and of 
the road-sides. Continental India to Java and Sumatra. -— attenuafa Luc. is a name for southern specimens 
which is just as dispensable as conformis Btlr. is for North Australian specimens. 
Z. otis F. (= oriens Btlr.) (153 c). The species has already been dealt with in its palearctic form 
(thibetensis Pouj.) in Vol. I, p. 295. The Indian form has above no distinct metallic base of the wings, but 
beneath more distinct eyedots. — indica Murr. which Bittler considers to be a distinct species, has beneath 
a distinct darker cell-end spot of the forewing. — lysizone Snell. (153 d) is the Indo-Chinese and Malayan form; 
it is very similar to the Indian form, but the upper surface is pale violet-blue; in Java common, very variable. 
— sangra Mr. differs by the absence of the cellular spot on the forewing beneath, but this is presumably more 
aberrative, as this form was collected at the most various habitats from the Himalaya to the Andamans and 
Formosa. The name would be better placed as synonymous to indica. — decreta Btlr. (= dicreta Swh.), regarded 
as a separate species by Swinhoe, is perhaps only a small stunted form of arid districts; smaller and paler 
than typical indica; the discal row of small black spots on the forewing beneath is always very large, the other 
markings, however, rather indistinct. From Mhow in India. 
assamica. 
annamitica. 
lysiynon. 
karsandra. 
novae, hol¬ 
landiae. 
mora. 
gaika. 
attenuata. 
otis. 
indica. 
lysizone. 
sangra. 
decreta. 
