GANGARA. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
1071 
E. thrax L. ($ — hiraca Mr.) (170 a). This largest Indian Hesperid has already been briefly described thrax . 
in the palearctic part (p. 344), hut Mabille does not state anything about the habits of this interesting lepidop- 
teron. The Andamanic form was separated as acroleuca W -Mas. Nic. invariably showing the distal margin acroleuca . 
of the forewing in the apical portion bleached yellowish-white. But according to Piepers and Snellen such 
specimens also occur in Java among the normal ones, so that the name also denotes an ,,aberration“. Specimens 
which I took in rather great numbers in Hongkong, are typical and do not form any recognisable transition 
to the palearctic form which, according to Mabille, has a darker ground-colour. - lara Swh. (Vol. I, p. 344), lara . 
from the palearctic region, also flies in the Nicobars; according to Mabille, it only differs essentially in the 
ground-colour. — sakita Pbb., from East Celebes, has white instead of yellow hyaline spots which are smaller, sakiia . 
the hyaline spots at the costal margin being quite absent; hindwing monotonously brownish-black, the under 
surface powdered with greyish-white. — In hastrubal Fruhst. (170 a), from Batjan and Ternate, presumably hasirubal . 
also from Ceram, the yellow spot of the cell on the forewing is almost or just as long as the median spot below 
it, and this spot is neither indented at its distal edge. — The larva is snow-white, covered with a very 
short wax-like pubescence, and with a black head. It is easily discovered, as it gnaws out of the gigantic 
banana-leaves, by 2 parallel cuts, a longitudinal piece which it rolls up like a cigar, in the centre of which it 
lives. These characteristic cuts you can see in the Musa-plantations from a distance of 20 and more paces, so 
that the larvae, and still more easily the pupae, may be collected in numbers ad lib. The pupa is of a dingy pale 
yellow with a very long case of the proboscis projecting beyond the end of the abdomen like a spear, though not 
so far as in the American Calpodes ethlius (Vol. V, pi. 183 c). From this pupa which, on being disquieted, moves 
lively about in its case, the imago is developed after about 8 days. The latter rests in daytime with its wings 
posteriorly folded up until nightfall, when the insects are distinctly noticeable against the light sky of the 
evening, chasing about in the Pisang-plantations. In sitting they perform quivering movements with their 
wings, and in flying they let a scratching noise be heard. The lepidoptera are common, and the larvae live not 
only on Musa but also on other Monocotyledons, such as sugar-cane, cocoanut-trees, Rhaphis, and Metroxylon; 
according to Piepers, they are often pricked by ichneumons. — The species is distributed all over India and 
Southern China, and occurs also in the Sundas and Moluccas, but not in the Australian Region and Polynesia. 
E. alexandra Smp. (170a) is quite similar to thrax, but the yellow hyaline spot between the median alexandra. 
branches almost extends into the angle where they branch off. leaving dark only the extreme apex of it, thus 
not farther towards the base than in thrax. In addition to this difference, the colouring of the larva is cpiite 
different. North-Western Luzon. 
E. grandis Leech (Vol. I, 87 a). This West Chinese lepidopteron having been dealt with in the grandis . 
palearctic part (Vol. I, p. 344) presumably also penetrates into the Indo-Australian Region in the southern parts 
of the Province of Kwei-chau. In the palearctic region it flies in June and July. 
30. Genus: (lisiiigara Mr. 
The most conspicuous difference of the Gangara from the species of the preceding genus is exhibited 
by the thickened median branches of the hindwing. Besides, however, there are also some differences in the 
habitus. In the larva which otherwise lives quite similarly as that of Erionota in casings made of the leaves of Musa, 
the white coating is increased into a dense fur of curled wax-threads. Only three very similar forms are known. 
SIS. 
yasodara . 
G. thyrsis F. (= Clothilda H.-Schciff.) (170 a, b) is above very similar to Erionota ihrax, but besides the thyrsis. 
3 large yellow spots in the latter species it has yet a few smaller ones before the apex and sometimes also before 
the anal angle of the fore wing, and the hindwing beneath is traversed by band-shaped clouds of whitish 
scales. — The most abundantly spotted yellow are Javanese specimens (= pandia Fruhst.), whereas the form pandia. 
philippensls Fruhst. from Luzon is particularly scantily provided with spots, the 3 only with 2 hyaline spots, philippen- 
- In yasodara Fruhst., from the Andamans, occurring also in Ceylon,.the principal spots are larger, the apical 
ones smaller than in typical specimens, as they are particularly brought from North India. — The larva chiefly 
lives on palms, particularly on cocoanut-trees and dwarf-palms, but it is said to occur also on ratan, Calamus 
rotang, and other Monocotyledons. It lives in leaf-casings and is white, with a fine waxy pubescence, so that 
it sometimes recalls the ,,poodle-caterpillars“ (Epicopeia) in which the wax-curls are also easily removed. 
Colour white, also the head white or at least light-coloured, whereas in Erionota it is black. Pupa, as in Erionota, 
of a dingy yellowish-white colour, with a long extended case for the proboscis which is often undulately curved 
or rolled, projecting beyond the pupa. The imagines are nocturnal like the Erionota, coming forth only after 
dusk and sometimes flying to the lantern like the Hasora, Ismene etc. With this species and the preceding 
ones, the $$ of the Hesperid Paduka lebadea show some external resemblance. 
G. sybirita Hew. (170 b), from the Peninsula of Malacca, chiefly differs from thyrsis in the more sybirita. 
variegated under surface of the hindwing being traversed by 2 rows of greenish-brown oblong spots; according 
to Cator, it also occurs in Borneo. 
