Cirrospilus, "Westwood.
*C. nireus, Walt.—A species about tbe size of a pin s head.
O r d e r L e p id o p t e r a .
The varied hues of the St. Helena landscape need little to add to
their brilliancy, or the almost entire absence of Butterflies would be
more striking. There are but four species in the Island, and they
have all been imported. With the Moths it is quite different.
They abound, as is evidenced not only by their own presence, but
by the multitude of their large and small caterpillars or larvae, which
cause so much destruction to garden plants. There is one of them,
known as the common black grub, which at certain times literally
swarms in the earth, and proves as formidable an enemy to the
farmer and the gardener as they are likely to meet with. Most of
the Moths are nocturnal in habit, and sometimes, attracted by a
light, come into a room in such numbers as almost to extinguish
the flame of a candle. Mr. Walker has identified forty-three species,
of which he has described twenty as new to science.
Fam. Nymphalidce.
Danais, Latr.
D . c h r y s ip p u s , Linn.—-The Asclepias Butterfly is the largest
and most showy, and is very common in the warm parts of the
Island, where it is evidently attracted by the Asclepias bushes, upon
which its beautiful black and yellow caterpillars feed, and from which,
like handsome eardrops, its bright green and gold pupse or chrysalides
are suspended.
Hiadema, Boisd.
D . b o l in a , Linn.—Black-and-white Butterfly, of which only a
few exist on the low warm land about Jamestown, where it associates
with the Asclepias Butterfly.
Pyrameis, Hiibn.
P . c a r d u i , Linn.—The common, ubiquitous, Painted Lady, or
orange and red Butterfly, is one of the most abundant, frequenting
all parts of the Island, but chiefly the gardens on the high land.
Its black and yellow, very hairy caterpillar is not very destructive,
as it confines itself to mallows, nettles, and other weeds.,
Fam. lyccenidts.
Lycsena, Fabr.
L . b c e t ic a , Linn.— The small blue Butterfly is the most abundant
everywhere, especially on a damp sunny day, which appears to
suit it best. I have not met with the larvse anywhere but in
the pods of green-peas; though they must feed elsewhere, as this
vegetable is scarcely sufficiently cultivated to account for so large a
number of the butterflies.
Fam. Sphingidm.
Chserocampa, Dup,
C. c e le r io , Linn.—This widely-distributed creature, known as
the Brown Hawk Moth, with red wings, is not very common in the
Island; but its large green or brown larvse, or caterpillars, are very
destructive to tbe grape-vines, devouring the young shoots and
leaves immediately they are put forth in the spring months of
October and November. They very quickly destroy' every vestige
of foliage on a large vine.
'Acherontia, Ochs.
A . a t r o p o s , Linn.—The Death’s-Head, or, as it is commonly
called, the Fernando Po Moth, is said to have first appeared in the
Island in the year 1835, and was afterwards very plentiful until
1854, when it disappeared almost simultaneously with the Honey
Bee, to which it was a troublesome enemy. As many as five or
six would inhabit one hive, getting access to it in spite of all precautions
to keep them out, and would feed uppr^the honey as well
as destroy the Bees. Whether they were instrumental in exterminating
the Bees or not, it is difficult to ascertain, but both disappeared
at the same time.*
Fam. Leucanidce.
Leucania, Ochs.
L. e x t r a n e a , Guen.—A large light-brown Moth, about three-
* The Honey Bee was re-introduced a few years ago, and it is a remarkable fact, that this
moth has just (1874) reappeared in the Island, after an absence of twenty years.