Zoological Illustrations Series II/Plate 75
PELEUS.
1. Gentius. 2. Æacus
PELEUS Æacus.
Family Hesperidæ.
Generic Character.
Antennæ not hooked, the club formed into a long, slender, fuciform arch. Wings with both surfaces alike, horizontally divaricated when at rest; posterior rounded, entire; broader from the base to the anal angle, than to the exterior margin.
Type. Hesp. Peleus. Fab.
Specific Character.
Wings deep brownish black; anterior with a redish transverse band, united to a spot of the same, and tipt with a sub-hyaline band of redish orange.
Hesp. Peleus. Fab. Cramer, pl. 284, f. F.
Entomologists, from being acquainted only with the habits of the European species of this family, represent the Hesperidæ as resting with only the hinder wings elevated: This is altogether a mistake. Some groups, indeed, assume this position when basking in the sun, or taking food; but even these, when fairly at rest, erect their wings in the ordinary manner: a fact we have repeatedly witnessed. Not so, however, with the group we now illustrate: and which is peculiar to South America. These insects rest with all the four wings expanded; and hide themselves during the meridian heat, on the under side of broad leaves, in the deep forests. From never appearing exposed, this species long escaped our search, but having once discovered this singular part of its economy, we captured it in abundance. It probably feeds, like many of the Sphingides, or Hawk Moths, in the morning and evening, but its haunts were too far from our habitation, to allow of ascertaining this point.
PELEUS Gentius.
Anterior wings black, with three yellow bars, posterior yellow, with a simple black border.
Hesp. Gentius. Fab. Cramer, pl. 179, f. C.
Our specimens of this very rare insect were captured by Dr. Langsdorff, in the interior of Southern Brazil, the colours of the under surface of the wings are the same as those of the upper.