Histioea proserpina (Hübner, 1823)

Hübner, J. (1823). Zuträge zur Sammlung exotischer Schmettlinge, Zweytes
Hundert: p. 10, no. 111, figs. 221, 222.

Translated from the German original.

111. Euchromia Proserpina.

From Brazil. Sent to me by Mr. Grimm. This species is clearly a Sphinx
papilionides and Glaucopis excelsa. The apparently female specimen is
fairly similar to E. Cephea [Cram. Papill. 197. E. Cepheus], but is
sufficiently distinguished by its small blue spots on the head, thorax and
abdomen, as well as by its own arrangement of spots. It is to be seen
figured in 221. 222.


Hampson, G.F. (1898). Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British
Museum, vol. 1 (Syntomidae): pp. 314-315, no. 691, text-fig. 143.

Euchromia proserpina, Hubn. Zutr. Ex. Schmett. ii. p. 10, ff. 221, 222
(1827); Kirby, Cat. Het. p. 120.

Black-brown; vertex of head, patagia, metathorax, and sides of thorax with
metallic blue spots; abdomen with two lateral series of blue spots. Fore
wing with blue spots at base and on discocellulars; short crimson streaks
at base below costa and median nervure and a streak to two-thirds of wing
above vein 1; a spot in end of cell and another below base of vein 2, all
these markings somewhat obsolescent; an oblique yellow fascia beyond the
cell from vein 7 to 3 near outer margin. Hind wing with two obliquely
placed crimson spots beyond the cell between veins 6 and 2.
Hab. Amazons (Wallace), 1 male, 1 female. Exp. 60 millim.


Draudt, M. (1915). Histiaea. In: Seitz, A. (ed.), The Macrolepidoptera of
the World, vol. 6, The American Bombyces and Sphinges: p. 102, pl. 16 i.

H. proserpina Hbn. (16 i) differs from the preceding by a quite obsolete
carmine spot in the cell-end and a lower one below the rise of the 2nd
median vein. The yellow spot in the cell-end is absent. Amazon; Peru.

The preceding species it refers to, same work, p. 102, pl. 16 i:

H. amazonica Btlr. (16 i) is characterized by a bent, narrow, red stripe in
the submedian area, a narrow red costal stripe and a mostly quite obsolete
inner-marginal stripe, a large yellow postdiscal spot extending from the
proximal margin almost to the distal margin, and like in the allies by a
quite brown, blue-spotted body without any yellow markings. The hindwing,
in the nomenclatory type, exhibits a large red postcellular spot, which is
reduced and parted into two small ones in f. inferioris Btlr. Amazon; from
the Coll. Fassl there is before me a typical male from East Colombia
(Villavicencio, 400 m).