240 
PLANEMA. By Dr. C. Attrivillius. 
forewing is always entirely without black dots; but the hindwing has always well developed basal dots and 
usually also discal dots, at least in cellules lb, l.c and 2; these are, however, closely approximated to the base 
on account of the shortness of the cell; submarginal dots, on the other hand, are always absent. At the distal 
margin there are long, strong black streaks on the folds between the veins; but light marginal spots are entire¬ 
ly absent on both surfaces. 
Some authors, who only concerned themselves with the colour and markings, have described several 
species of the genus Acraea as Planema. But if we refer Acraea alciope, jodutta and others to Planema it becomes 
quite impossible to draw a sharp dividing-line between Planema and Acraea and the two genera must be united, 
as the species just mentioned exactly agree in all important structural respects with the other Acraea and can¬ 
not possibly be separated from them generically. But if we take into consideration the characters cited above 
in the synopsis we shall find that there is a good demarcation' between true Planema and Acraea and that 
this has also found expression in the structure of the pupae, which have two long spines on the back of each of 
the first abdominal segments. 
The genus Planema only occurs in the Ethiopian Region and is especially well represented in West 
Africa. The Planemas are forest butterflies and are consequently wanting in the unwooded steppe-districts and 
also in the Madagascar subregion. 
The mimetic relations between Planema and Pseudacraea are very highly developed, as has been already 
shown above, p. 193—196. Since I worked out the Pseudacraeas, a Pseudacaraea terra has quite recently 
been bred from an egg laid by a Ps. obscura $, through the labours of Dr. Carpenter. Hence it has become 
very probable that the forms most nearly allied to Ps. eurytus L. only constitute one species, which would be 
remarkable for the fact that it employs several quite different species of Planema as model and has consequently 
become polychromatic. 
The sexes are more or less dissimilar. As a rule the transverse band or the subapical band of the fore¬ 
wing is in the A yellow to red-yellow, in the $ white or whitish and broader than in the A ! so also the median 
band of the hindwing is in the $$ broader and lighter than in the AS- The abdomen is marked and coloured 
almost exactly alike in both sexes; above blackish with yellow hinclmargin to the segments and with two round¬ 
ed light spots on each segment, beneath almost unicolorous yellowish. Only in the last few species is the ab¬ 
domen lighter dorsally in the A than in the $, as in many Acraeids. 
The species are nearly allied and form only two natural groups. 
First Group. 
In the species of this group the forewing lias beneath at the costal margin in cellule 12 close to the base two quadrate 
black spots, which are only separated by the ground-colour. One of these spots is placed quite at the base. The upperside 
of the forewing has usually only a light transverse hand, extending from the costal to the posterior margin or only 
indicated at the latter; occasionally this band is directed towards the distal margin and broadly separated from the small and 
indistinctly defined hindmarginal spot. Thus when a separate hindmarginal spot is present in this group it is not sharply defined 
and does not extend beyond vein 2. 
P. vestalis is distinguished from all the other species by the transverse band on the upperside of the 
forewing, otherwise so sharply conspicuous, being entirely absent or only in its posterior part (in cellules 
la—2) distinct and light grey-yellow; cellule 1 a is nearly always yellowish to beyond the middle; the 
hindwing above is light brown-yellow at least to the middle, but beneath only yellow-brown at the base as far 
vestalis. as the apex of the cell. In the type-form vestalis Fldr. (58 e) the upperside of the fore wing is unicolorous 
blackish to the base except for a yellow stripe at the hindmargin and the more or less distinct transverse 
band and the hindwing above has a black marginal band 7—9 mm. in breadth, sharply defined proximally, 
and beneath a usually very distinct whitish transverse band behind the basal part. Sierra Leone to the Eiger. 
stavelia. — In stavelia Stiff. (59 a) the basal part of the forewing above is more or less broadly suffused with light j^ellow 
and the yellow basal area on the upperside of the hindwing is not sharply defined distally and sends out 
yellowish rays nearly to the distal margin; on the under surface of the hindwing the whitish median band is 
absent or indistinct. Cameroons to the Congo. 
The three following species are nearly allied and are characterized by the light transverse band of the forewing touching 
the apex of the cell or partly covering it and completely filling up the base of cellule 3 at least in the The transverse 
band on the forewing above is in the d narrow, 4—7 mm. in breadth, nearly straight, placed more or less vertically to the hind- 
margin and brown-yellow to red-yellow, in the $ always white, broader and more obliquely placed. In the 9 $ the hindwing 
has a white median band or is at least somewhat lighter in the middle. The 9$ are considerably larger than the dd- 
macaria. P. macarfa F. (57 ). The spots of the transverse band of the fore wing in cellules 1 b and 2 are deeply incised 
distally or occasionally quite cleft; the hindwing above at the base as far as the apex of the cell dark brown toblack- 
ish, then with a distinct light yellowish (A) or white (£) median band. In the A the upperside of the forewing is 
nearly black in the basal part as far as the transverse band; hence the dark yellow transverse band, which is about 
7 mm. in breadth, is sharply defined basally; it forms in the apex of the cell an irregular spot, which usually encloses 
a rounded spot of the ground-colour. In the 9 the white transverse band of the fore wing completely fills up the 
base of cellule 3 and occasionally also forms 1 or 2 spots in the cell; it may be best distinguished from the $ 
