CUPHA. By H. Fruhstorfer. 
465 
\ '• . tji 
y Puil. 18. III. 1912. 
/ 
7. Genus: Cupha Bilb. 
The Cupha species are sharply divided from all the other genera of this group by two characters: the 
thread like almost clubless antennae and the fourth subcostal nervure of the forewings finishing in the costal 
border. Only Cirrochroa possesses a similarly formed antennae, but it can immediately be seperated as only 
one subcostal nervure branches before the end of the cell and through the position of the fourth nervure. 
In all the other genera it finishes either in the apex or in the outer border, the situation is quite an excep¬ 
tion amongst the Nymphalidae, whereas amongst the Satyridae it is the rule. Possibly this has something to 
do with the pronounced Satyrid characters of the Cupha species, which have rounded wings and the undersides 
provided with eye-spots; moreover the median spur is missing in all the species, which proves that the rela¬ 
tionship to Argynnis is very small. The swollen palpi seem to make it appear rational to leave the Genus here 
in spite of the above mentioned anomalies. Besides the chief characters already mentioned the form of the 
palpi is also characteristic for Cupha (= Messaras), they being very much sAvollen. The last segment is short 
and thin, sharply pointed and clothed with short hairs. The forewings possess a short, broad and closed cell. 
The 1st. subcostal nervure straight before the end of the cell, the 2nd very much inclined towards it, the 3rd 
nearer to the 2nd than to the 4th., which latter ends in the costal margin, while the 5th. goes into the apex. 
The rear diseocellular meets the median at the base of the 2nd nervui*e. Hindwings with narrower cells. Prae- 
costal simple, branching off after the subcostal and bent obliquely outwards. The Cupha species are coloured 
uniformly brown or yellow-brown, with very indistinct markings, and are distributed over the greater portion 
of the Indo-Australasian region. We meet with them in India, northwards to Formosa and extending over the 
Philippines and the Papuan region to the Solomons. The species are mostly rich in individuals and therefore 
belong to the commonest butterflies of the East. They are also sun loving insects and visit flowers and are to 
be found everywhere where the remains of forests are to be found amongst cultivated areas. The various species 
are very much alike, the differential characters very indistinct, the individuals themselves very variable and 
very susceptible to geographic and climatic influences. Actually hardly one specimen resembles another. The 
genital organs of the various species do not exhibit any noteworthy differences. Uncus extremely delicate, 
finger-shaped. Valve very broad especially towards the base and with light bristles and dorsally with a tooth- 
like excrescence. -—- Valve according to the locality more or less triangular and with a blunt distal point. Larva 
on Flacourtia, brown with a dorsal and a lateral row of dark brown spots. Head with two finely branched spines. 
The remaining segments with laterally brown half transparent spines. Pupa very interesting, green with eight 
brightly coloured filaments and four brightly coloured protuberances. 
C. erymanthis, the commonest species of the Genus is distributed over an enormous territory and is 
one of the most variable species of the East, as wherever sharp seasonal changes occur, it forms strongly marked 
seasonal forms, erymanthis Drury, the name type, comes from China and is based on the dry-season form (107 g). erymanthis. 
Underside dull yellow, faded, sandcoloured with bluish violet transverse bands on the hindwings, otherwise with 
only unimportant black dots and streaks. Upperside chiefly dark yellow ochre with somewhat lighter trans¬ 
verse bands on the foreAvings. Time of flight November to March. The wet-season form (107 f), at present 
unnamed is always as large and frequently larger than the winter form. The uppersides darker brown, the 
subapical spots of the forewings smaller, the black intramedian dots on these larger, undersides brighter than 
the dry-season form, with a broad light yellow subapical band on the forewings and brightly colored and strongly 
marked hindwings, time of flight from May onwards. The VanessaAike larva according to Walker on Glochi- 
dion eriocarpum Champ., a common Avayside bush Avitli Avoolly leaves. Pupa strongly angled with a bright 
metallic sheen. Distribution South China, Hongkong, Formosa. — lotis Sulz. is the oldest name for that race lotis. 
which inhabits continental India Avith the exception of the south and extends eastwards to Tonkin, Annam 
and Siam, lotis is always smaller than the typical race, the specimens of the dry-season form are dull yelloAV 
ochre above, with beautiful pale yelloAV transverse bands on the forewings. From the plains up to an altitude 
of about 5000' and to be met with from the foot of the Himilayas from Mussorie to Assam and Burmah, in the 
South on the Malay Peninsular, Singapore and the Natuna Islands. Specimens from Tenasserim are very dark, 
Avhich was also the case with specimens collected by me during the Avet-season in Further India. — maja Fruhst. maja. 
is a well differentiated local race from Southern India, which Moore has well figured (Lepid. Indica IV, PI. 362). 
Uppersides with dark broAvn basal region of all Avings and a beautiful pale broAvn distal region on the hindAvings. 
The deep black apical portion of the foreAvings without yellow spots, the very broad pale yelloAv-ochre transverse 
bands are flushed with red at the rear. Undersides remarkable on account of the strongly contrasting reddish 
yellow distal- and pale yellow basal areas of all wings. Very common in the South of India from Kanara to 
the Nilghiris, especially Avherever woods are present, maja flies like Atella phalanta Avithout pausing from bush 
to bush and continues to move its AVings if it rests for a moment. Larva like that of Atella and on the same 
plant (Flacourtia) and only distinguished by me on account of the different colour of the head and the spines 
not being black but partly transparent; according to Hampson dull applegreen, as also the pupa, which has red 
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