Publ. 20. V. 1910. 
DANAIDA. By H. Fruhstorfer. 
193 
Almost all the species have a slow, clumsy flight, prefer open grass-plots, even village gardens and 
localities in large towns, such as Bangkok and Hongkong, and in contrast to the Euploeas and Hestias 
avoid dense woods 
On account of their abundance they are among the most characteristic butterflies of the East. 
Inhabitants of the plains (some forms scarcely ascending above the woods at the coast), only a few 
species are confined to the alpine region; in Java, however, albata ascends to 2500 m., and is not even 
afraid of the sulphureous vapour of the volcanoes. 
All the Danaids keep near the ground and in my experience they hut rarely visit trees, even when 
these are covered with flowers and attract whole swarms of Euploeas. 
Next to the Euploeas, the species of Danaida are the most copiously provided with secondary 
sexual characters; a phenomenon which apparently runs parallel with the most varied development of the 
clasping organs. The uncus, however, is always feeble, of palpi-like shape, the tegumen provided with 
vermiform processes and the valve unusually broad, only rarely armed with spines, all the organs less 
chitinous than those of the Nymphalids and even the Satyrids. 
The neuration, in contrast to the constancy of the Euploeas, varies within the groups, the first 
subcostal vein arising either before the end of the cell, exactly at it, or soon after. But these variations 
are not constant, changing even in representative species and sometimes within a species, and can only 
with caution he utilized as generic characters (as Moore has attempted to do). Middle discocellular of 
the hindwing either long and obliquely inwards ( Anosia ), or short and at right angles to the median ( Bara- 
deba). Precostal of the hindwing arising at the point of origin of the subcostal. Antenna gradually thickened. 
Egg large, the ends obtuse, with numerous longitudinal ribs, numbering according to the species 15 
( aglaioides ) to 34 ( hegesippus ), and prominent transverse lines, of which Doherty counted 22 ( vielano - 
leuca) to 38 ( tytia ). Larva smooth with variegated stripes or spots and fleshy appendages, of which the 
anterior flexible pair according to Seitz is used as a tactile organ. The number of these filaments varies 
from 2 to 3 pairs according to the group. The larva grows quickly and changes into a barrel-shaped pupa, 
whose anal part is sometimes shaped like a wasp’s nest and hung up exactly like one. 
Group Anosia Hbn. (1816). 
Larva with two pairs of tentacles, without lateral stripes. Second subcostal vein arises at the end of 
the cell. Hindwing with a pouch of androconia sunk in at the third median vein. 
D. archippus F. (= menippe Hbn.) (vol. I, p. 76 mentioned as plexippus L. and figured 28 c), ax-chippus. 
originally a native of North America, where it flutters about even on the pavements of the large towns, 
has already been naturalized as an immigrant in Australia and East Asia — as it were a symbol of the 
American capacity for expansion. By the English archippus is called the „wanderer“. It was first ob¬ 
served in 1863 on the Tonga Islands, in 1867 on Samoa, in 1871 in Queensland and in the same year on 
Celebes. It has reached Java and Penang and on Formosa is already one of the commonest species. In 
coll. Fruhstorfer it is also represented from the Fiji Islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, Dutch New 
Guinea, the Moluccas, Talaut and the Fergusson Islands. From Amhoina I have before me an aberrant 
example with whitish yellow upper surface to both wings. According to the structure of the genitalia 
archippus is morphologically the most highly specialized form and may hence be regarded as one of the 
most recent branches of the Danaid stirps. Penis long, awl-shaped, slightly curved distally, very narrow, 
chitinous, not broadly soft-membranaceous as in the other Danaida. Uncus distinct, hut likewise only 
slightly chitinized, basally broad, distally with strong obtuse point. Valve broad, somewhat recalling that 
of Hestia, with black-brown sharp distal point, ventrally slightly concave. 
Group Limnas Hbn. (1806). 
Second-, subcostal vein of the forewing arises at the apex of the cell, middle discocellular of the hind¬ 
wing in the <$ strongly elbowed, in the 9 incurved. Androconia-pouch of the hindwing far removed from the 
lower median vein. Larva with 3 pairs of tentacles. Uncus aborted. Valve quadrate, distally with a scarcely 
perceptible point, but a long spine, which is directed ventrally with the point towards the last abdominal 
tergite. 
D. chrysippus L. (vol. I, pi. 28 a, p. 75—76, where also larva and pupa are fully described). Egg chrysippus. 
shaped like a sugar-loaf, yellowish. Pupa sometimes green, sometimes wax-yellow, pupal stage 6—9 days. 
Larval stage lasts 12—14 days. This beautiful butterfly is one of the most widely distributed species in 
the world, its migrations already extending over four continents, while its immigration into the fifth is 
certain to follow sooner or later, whenever more direct steamboat communication is established between 
Africa and South America. The species is distributed from continental India to the Loo C’hoo Islands and 
eastwards from Nias to New Guinea. In continental India itself the species is common everywhere from 
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