HYBLAZA PUERA, var, NIGRA, MS. 295 


shining black, the constrictions between the abdominal seg 
ments being banded with red, the segments themselves being 
finely striated transversely. The antenng, eyes, proboscis and 
legs of the future moth can be distinctly seen upon the outside 
of the pupal case forming swellings and ridges. The pupa 
tapers from the anterior end downwards. Length 2 inch. 
Width across upper end sz inch, PI, XIX, fig. 1, 4, shows the 
pupa in its silken cocoon spun amongst the leaves. 
Moth.—Has a great resemblance to that of Hyblza puera, 
but is much stouter in build. Mr. N. Brodie, C.S., considers it to 
be a “curious variety, most of the ?’s having a triangular brown |. 
patch at the tips of the forewing, like those possessed by con- 
Stellata, but the shape of the forewing and the presence of the 
two black spots on the underside of the hind-wing at the anal 
angle instead of one shows it to be puera.”’ Pl. XIX, HORT, ce 
shows the male, and d@ the female of this insect. The moth 
varies in size but the specimens I obtained have about the same 
wing expanse as H/, puera. 
The above descriptions of the pupa and moth show that they 
differ from those of Hyblea puera to a certain extent. On 
the other hand, the larva is similar in possessing the white trans- 
verse dorsal streak upon the 11th segment and yet totally dis- 
similar in colouring on the dorsal surface, It is also longer. 
The dissimilarity in the larva, pupa and moth have led me 
to place this insect temporarily as a variety of the true fTyblea 
puera. 
Life History. 
As far as is at present known, this variety has only been 
reported from the Nilambur Teak Plantations and from the planta- 
tions in the Rangoon Division in Lower Burma. It was apparently 
plentiful at Nilumbur during July since specimens sent for iden- 
tification to Mr, N, Brodie at Calicut proved to be this insect. I 
found it very plentiful towards the latter part of August in the 
Panangode, Aravallikavu and Edakode Plantations, In the latter 
it had, in company with Pyrausta, completely defoliated portions 
of some young 8-year old plantations—not a leaf being left upon 
the trees. The caterpillar is larger than the ordinary A. puera 
one and is a voracious feeder. Its method of pupation is the same 
Xx 
