548 
PHILODILA; DAHIRA; MICRACOSMERYX. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
numerous, whilst to the north their number decreases, so that in Kwang-tung they are already very scarce. 
pallescens. Like nerii also the hypothous may occasionally wander in China to the north. pallescens Btlr. (= magnifica 
Bilr., gloriosa Rothsch.) is the mostly larger form from Australia, Xew Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and 
the Salomons. The distal area between the median branches of the forewing is almost as dark as the deep 
olive green median area; the whitish lines in the submedian area are obsolete, and the bordering of this green 
area is less light; besides the light transverse lines before the antemedian oblique band are indistinct. — Larva 
light green with a yellow, posteriorly brown subdorsal stripe below which there are sky-blue spots; horn and 
anal region dark brown; in the sides darker green oblique stripes which, however, extend in the opposite region, 
compared with the other Sphingid larvae, i. e. from in front and above to behind and below. It lives on 
Cinchona (china-bark) and presumably also on Katechu (Uncaria) and is probably protected by the bitter 
substances of these plants. The pupa has the slender shape and the ochre-brown colour of that of nerii ; it is 
able to strike out very vehemently. (According to R. Mell this mobility is different in C hinese specimens.) 
The imagines come frequently to the light and also visit blossoms; they leave the pupae in the evening. 
layardi. D. layardi Mr. (63 a) is considerably smaller than the preceding species, the wings are similarly coloured 
but more plainly marked; the anteterminal stripe in the hindwing is curved; the median transverse stripe in 
the forewing is posteriorly distinctly defined, but proximad hazy. Ceylon, rather rare. 
plan da. D. placida Wkr. (63 a). The light median transverse band of the forewing is neither outside nor inside 
distinct and straightly cut off. The forewing of this species also lacks a tiny white spot at the apex, which is 
exhibited by the two preceding species. In typical placida, which are nearly everywhere common from the 
Andamans across the Sunda Is. to the Philippines and New Hebrids, the inner border of-the olive green discal 
area is above deeply indented, and the antemedian line is distinct; only from the Fidji Is. specimens are 
brought, in which that proximal border of the median olive spot extends straightly and the antemedian line 
iorenia. of the forewing is entirely or almost entirely obsolete; this is the form torenia Drc. (= rosacea Rothsch.). 
doheriyi. C. dohertyi Rothsch. (63 a) is hardly larger than placida, but it has more pointed wings, and is easily 
recognizable by the light tooth penetrating into the dark oblique band of the fore wing from the direction of 
callasia. the marginal area. New Guinea, Bismarck Is. — callusia R. <£■ J., from the Salomons Is., is smaller and the 
grey submarginal line of the forewing is almost entirely absent. 
minima. D. minima Btlr. (63 b) is very similar to the preceding species in the colouring and marking, but at 
once recognizable by its small size which hardly excels that of Macrogl. stellatarum. This species also lacks the 
emesiina. white belt at the base of the abdomen. South India. — ernestina Mr. is the Ceylon form; slightly larger and 
darker particularly at the base of the forewing and on the hindwing. Known from Pundaloya; I took ernestina 
once near Kandy. — The species is apparently very rare. 
protrudens. D. protrudens Fldr. (= neriastri Bsd.) (63 b) is as large as nerii, but dark brown, tinted reddish and 
with yellowish or whitish brightenings. The lighter median band has expanded into a large brightening in the 
median area, suffused with reddish and parted by a somewhat oblique thick dark line. At the apex a dark 
marginal spot, but no white macula. Australia and Salomons Is.; also from Halmaheira. 
43. Genus: I*l*H««Ii3a R. & J. 
This genus has been founded on a lepidopteron of the approximate shape of Ampeloeca myron, but 
coloured as the American Darapsa pholus (cf. the figure in Vol. VI), though with a more falcate apex of the 
forewing. The lepidopteron is labelled with “Mexico 14 . Rothschild and Jordan, however, take it to be Indo- 
Australian. I can only supply the copy of the insect from the Sphingid work of these two authors. The species 
astyanor. was named: ( Everyx) astyanor Bsd. (56 C a). 
44. Genus: Dahira Mr. 
The genus contains but 1 species from North India unci China, which had formerly been ranged with 
the genus Ambulyx which has now been cancelled again. It belongs to the most graceful Sphingidae known; 
the forewing and abdomen are particularly pointed and are stiffly erected by the resting imago. 
rubiginosa. D. rubiginosa Mr. (== rubescens Btlr.) (56 C b). Forewing with a slightly falcate apex, dark brown, in 
places covered with light or darker scales; the apex of the forewing is parted by a whitish streak; white is also 
the slightly produced interior angle. Hindwing dark golden yellow, the inner-marginal area dark brown. Size 
about that of Perg. elpenor. For a long time only the one specimen in the British Museum had been known; 
now R. Mell has profoundly examined into the natural history of the species. 
45. Genus: Jflieracosmeryx Mell. 
The name of this genus is extraordinarily expressive and at once supplies the right idea of the only 
species known. The imago in fact looks like an Acosmeryx sericeus reduced to the size of a Macrogl. stellatarum. 
Thorax, abdominal dorsum, and forewing are intermixed with light, lustrous, irregular, and frequently 
