154 
PERGESA; HIPPOTION; THERETRA. By B. Gehles. 
34. Genus: l*ergesa Whr. 
lugens. P. elpenor (Yol. 2, p. 257, pi. 42 a), ab. lugens Niep. is a transition form between elpenor and ab. daubi 
hades. Niep. (13 e). — ab. hades Rbl. is also close to daubi. Ground colour of all wings dusky brown with black mark- 
alboradiata. ings; only the metathorax is red; abdomen yellowish with red tip. — ab. alboradiata Lamb, has hindwings 
with white rays between the veins from base to outer margin; these rays also occur on underside, but they 
scheider- are less distinct. — ab. scheiderbaueri Gschw. has hindwings with a green, 2—3 mm wide band at outer edge 
baueri. Q f q asa | area from costal to inner margin. 
wesloeensis. P. porcellus L. (Vol. 2, p. 257, pi. 42 a), ab. wesloeensis Knock. The narrow red costal stripe of normal 
porca. specimens extends as a wide band obliquely across the forewing. —subsp. porca B.-H. fromKultuk on the Lake 
of Baikal, has brownish antennae; thorax and abdomen rose; basal area of forewings brown, central area 
rose on costa, discal band greenish brown, marginal area rose. 
sus. P. suellus Stgr. (Vol. 2, p. 258, pi. 42 b). subsp. sus B.-H. from Central Tian-Shan, Issyk-kul, Aksu, 
Juldus. $ antennae pure white, collar reddish brown with rose edge, thorax rose, abdomen brown on upperside 
with 3 lateral marks. Base of forewings brownish, central area rose, discal band brown (rose at costa), margin rose. 
35. Genus: Hippotion Hbn. 
rosea. H. celerio (Vol. 2, p. 258, pi. 42 b). rosea Closs denotes a form heavily suffused with red. — ab. luecki 
luecki. (j\ oss i s a melanic form in which all black markings are heavily increased; consequently on hindwings the 
red band is much suppressed in the outer half. The silvery markings are quite absent except for rudimentary 
sieberti. traces of the lateral spots on abdomen. —ab. sieberti Closs. The oblique band of forewings very wide and yellow¬ 
ish instead of silvery; of the two thin dark lines that extend through this band in the main type form, only 
one is indicated, whilst the band is divided through its entire length by a wide dull brown shade. 
36. Genus: Tlieretra Hbn. 
Also in regard to this Genus Mell deserves every credit on account of his researches in the early stages 
and modes of life. The Theretra ova are distinctly longer than wide, almost always green and generally 
deposited a few at a time in batches of 2—7 (suffusa always singly) on a plant. Head of larva always devoid 
of markings; ocelli present in all species. — Pupation generally takes place in a tough trellis network puparium 
on the surface of the earth or between leaves ( silhetensis ). The larva of clotho climbs upwards for pupating, 
spinning up on tree stems or in crevices of walls, on the other hand oldenlandiae enters the earth for pupation. 
nessus. T. nessus Drury (Vol. 2, p. 258, pi. 42 c and Vol. 10, p. 565). In regard to the colouration of the 
larva, it should be added that same varies from whitish green over green to rusty yellow-red and the red-brown 
of autumn shades. Ocellus of 4th segment relatively small, dull buff, no pupil and indistinctly marked, at 
the best there is still a pale ocellus-like spot on 5th ring. The very large pupa (65—81 mm) is dorsally grev- 
brown with a brown dorsal stripe, ventrally in the sheaths of the limbs with sharply dark outer area, leaving 
a pale central zone; cremaster with 2 distinct bristles at tip. Food plants Dioscoreaceae. — The moth is 
a regular visitor at flowers. It is nervous and lively and when disturbed during the day flies away rapidly 
and excitedly. 
clothn. T. clotho Drury (Vol. 2, p. 259, pi. 42 d and Vol. 10, p. 565). Pupa is dark stone-grey; cremaster 
groove large and deep, the long bristles at tip diverging slightly outwards like the tail of a swallow. 
alecto. T. alecto L. (Vol. 2, p. 259, pi. 42 f and Vol. 10, p. 566). Pupa is sleek and of irregular colour; pro¬ 
boscis and tips of sheaths of limbs pale yellowish grey; dorsal region impure greenish brown; sides from eyes 
to anus grey brown shaded with grey and with longitudinal streakings; eyes pale yellowish grey. Tongue sheath 
is shaped like a drake’s bill, projecting 7—9 mm above the frons. Cremaster terminating in a simple point. — 
transcaspi- The moth visits flowers and is very lively. — subsp. transcaspica B.-H. (13 c) from Transcaspia is much smaller 
ca - than the main type form, 61—70 mm. Ground colour of forewings brownish grey. On outer edge of the bold 
oblique stripe of forewings there is a bright reddish stripe; this stripe, however, sometimes occurs in a. cretica. 
The black lateral patches at base of abdomen reduced in size. Black stigma more distinct. 
japonica. T. japonica Orza (Vol. 2, p. 259, pi. 42 b and Vol. 10, p. 567). Pupa is sleek, impure yellowish brown, 
sheaths of antennae and legs darker, dotted with blackish as the veins of the wings, no striking sheath of 
proboscis, only projecting like a keel in the region of the eyes. Cremaster long, sleek, generally bent ventrally, 
at its tip 2 horizontal, projecting, slightly curved spikes. Pupa in the earth and under the ridge of rocks. — 
Also the japonica moths visit flowers. 
oldenlan- T. oldenlandiae oldenlandiae F. (Vol. 2, p. 259, pi. 42 b and Vol. 10, p. 567).. An indo-australian species 
dme - that also occurs in China and Japan. Larva is generally dark, rarely green, thoracic segments with a subdorsal 
