Plate III. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Noctuidæ.
GENUS. EREBUS, _Latr._ Thysania, _Dalm._ Noctua, _Fabr._ Phalæna
(Attacus), _Linn. Drury._
EREBUS ODORA. Alis dentatis fuscis, nigro undatis, anticis ocello atro
auriformi fulvo marginato; posticis sesquialtero. (Expans. Alar. 7½ unc.)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Odora, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. _p._ 811. _No._ 11.
_Sloan. Jam._ 2. _t._ 236. _f._ 13. 14. Noctua Odora, Fabr. Ent. Syst.
III. 2. p. 10. No. 8. Gmelin, Linn., S. N. 2529. 11. Cramer, Ins. tab.
169. _fig._ A. B. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 8. 252. 7.
HABITAT: Jamaica, Antigua, and other West Indian Islands (_Drury_).
Surinam (_Fabricius_).
_Upper Side._ The body and wings are of a dark brown. The latter are
scolloped, the anterior having, near their anterior margin, towards the
middle, a black eye on each, shaped like a human ear, whose iris is of a
dark orange colour; and, near the anal angle, towards the external edge,
is a black scolloped line, running half way up the wing, joining to which
(under it) is a bar of a very soft and delicate brown colour, differing
from the general tint of the wings. The posterior wings have, on each,
near the external edge, a mark somewhat like a large eye; upon whose
under edge are two semi-eyes, one black, the other the same colour as the
wings. Many agreeable shades, of a lighter colour, and ingrailed lines,
run across all the wings.
_Under Side._ The head, breast, and legs, are the same colour as the
upper side; except the thighs of the fore legs, which are red. There is
very little variety of colours on this side, except a purplish hue,
visible when held in a declining direction.
Drury notices another insect, also received by him from Saint
Christopher's, of smaller size, and differing only in having a narrow
indented bar, of a flesh colour, crossing the upper and lower wings, and
which, he thinks, may possibly be the other sex of the insect here figured;
considering also, that the references to Linnæus and Sloane, apply rather
to the smaller insect. Fabricius states, that the female of Odora is
distinguished by having a fascia, composed of three waved white lines, in
the middle of the wings.
{7}SPILOSOMA ACREA.
Plate III. fig. 2. [female]. 3. [male].