Caryatis phileta (Drury, 1782)

Drury, D. (1782). Illustrations of Natural History, wherein are exhibited
upwards of two hundred and twenty figures of exotic insects, vol. 3:
pp. 30-31, pl. 22, fig. 5 (the name Phalaena Phileta is given in the
index). Described in the genus Phalaena (Noctua).

Fig. V. Expands two inches and a quarter.

Upper-side.--The Antennae are thread-like and black.--The Eyes black.--The
Thorax red, being prettily spotted and striped with black.--The Abdomen
yellow, with black streaks crossing it.--The Superior Wings are of a sooty
black, with a white band crossing each from the anterior edges to the lower
corners.--The Inferior Wings are yellow, with a black border running along
the external edges.

Under-side. The Head and Neck are red.--The Legs are streaked black and
white.--The Breast and Abdomen yellow, the latter spotted with black on
each side.--All the Wings on this side exhibit the same colour as on the
upper. The edges of all the wings are plain.

I received it from Sierra Leon on the coast of Africa.

I have not seen it any where described.

Gaede, M. (1926). Caryatis. In: Seitz, A. (ed.), The Macrolepidoptera of
the World, vol. 14, The African Bombyces and Sphinges: pp. 111-112,
pl. 18 a.

C. phileta Drury (18 a). Thorax tan-coloured, with black and carmine
stripes. Abdomen orange-yellow with black dots. Forewing blackish-brown,
veins as far as the transverse band finely yellow. Band white, from 3/5 of
the costal margin to a little above the anal angle, in the first third
inside and outside somewhat thickened. Hind wing orange-yellow with a black
margin to vein 2. In the hindwing vein 5 is almost invariably entirely
fused with 4. 40 to 50 mm. Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Congo.