32 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Early Stages. — Larva— The short, stout, uniformly-coloured 
larva feeds on the flowers of the “ bilimbi ” tree ( Averrhoa bilimbi). 
The larvae vary much in colour, hardly two being alike. Uniform 
yellowish-gray, pale yellow, pale greenish-yellow, pale green, pale 
pink, and red are all common colours. (Plate F., figures 5 and 6.) 
Pupa. —The pupa is a very pretty object, being usually a bright 
light green (sometimes with black markings) with numerous fascicu¬ 
lated tufts of yellow spiny hairs. The sketch (Plate F., figure 8), 
for which I am indebted to Mr. E. Ernest Green, gives a good idea 
of its general appearance. It is generally attached to a flower-stalk, 
but sometimes to a flower-petal or fruit, or more rarely a leaf, of 
the food plant. I noticed that those pupae which were formed in my 
paper-lined boxes were all of a light-gray colour, sometimes with 
indications of rosy-red markings ; it is possible therefore that this 
species possesses some degree of colour-adaptability in its pupa. 
Imago. —The transformations of this species are unusually rapid, 
the larva suspending itself and pupating in a few hours, the imago 
emerging after a pupal period of only four or five days. 
Habits of Imago .—Contrary to the usual habit of plume moths, 
this species appresses itself closely to the surface on which it is 
resting ; also it frequently settles on the under surface of leaves. It 
may readily be beaten in the day time from bilimbi trees or from 
bushes in their vicinity. 
Diacrotricha aglaodesma, Meyr. 
T. E. S., 1886, 12 ; B. J., XVII., 134. 
Distribution .—Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kegalla, 
Colombo, Trine omalee, Mat ale, Arawa. 
Rather scarce ; may be looked for in dry low-country districts. 
My specimens were taken at light at Trine omalee in November, 
1906, and on June 8, 1907. 
Occurs also in Eastern Australia and in some of the South Pacific 
and Malayan Islands. 
Diacrotricha pesseuta, Meyr. 
B. J., XVII., 134. 
Distribution. —Puttalam (in February and April— Pole) ; Ham- 
bantota (January 12, 1908). 
This species has not yet been recorded from any locality outside 
of Ceylon and is evidently an inhabitant of the very dry low-country 
districts. My single specimen was beaten from a tangled growth 
of Euphorbia , Gapparis, and Vitis quadrangular is. 
EXELASTIS, Meyr. 
This genus has lately been founded (B. J., XVII., 730) to 
include atomosa and liophanes. I give a figure of the neuration 
(Plate C., figure F), but would call attention to an apparent dis- 
