PHOLISOEA. 441 



PHOLISORA. 



Pholisora, Scudder, Rep. Peab. Ac. Sc. 1871, p. 72; Wats. P. Z. S. 1893, p. 68. 



A small genus of rather obscure affinities, based by Mr. Scudder upon Papilio 

 catullus, Fabr., as its type. Hesperia hayhursti, Edw., and other species have been 

 placed with it by American writers, but it is not certain that any of them are strictly 

 congeneric. 



We place the following species in Pholisora, but with some hesitation, as the 

 male secondary sexual characters, as will be seen below, differ very considerably from 

 those of P. catullus. In general appearance, neuration, and the structure of the 

 antennae and palpi there appears to be little divergence, and the last-named afford a 

 characteristic feature. 



The primaries of P. mexicana are, like those of P. catullus, rather rounded at the 

 apex, the outer margin being evenly convex ; the third median segment is short, about 

 equal to the lower discocellular, which again equals the middle, the upper discocellular 

 being distinct and about half the length of the others. 



The secondaries very slightly project about the middle of the outer margin ; the 

 second median segment is shorter than the second subcostal segment ; the discocellulars 

 and radial are feebly developed. 



The antennae have an elongated slightly curved club, the end of which tapers 

 gradually to a rather blunt point ; this is not so much rounded as in true Hesperia and 

 its allies, nor so sharply pointed as in most of the preceding genera. The palpi have a 

 long porrect terminal joint. The hind tibiae carry two pairs of spurs. 



The male genitalia of P. catullus have a tegumen ending in two claws, at the base 

 of which arise two lobes, one on either side ; the scaphium is well developed and 

 shows a strongly chitinized end ; the harpes have two slightly rounded lobes, folded 

 backwards and serrate along their edges ; the oedeagus is complicated, and on the 

 underside at the end has a strong recurrent hook. Comparing these points with 

 the figure of the genitalia of P. mexicana (Tab. XC. fig. 12) the differences are 

 obvious. 



The range of the genus extends over both the Eastern and Western States of 

 North America and over nearly the whole of Mexico. 



l. Pholisora mexicana. (Tab. xc. figg. 11, 12 e.) 



Nisoniades mejicanus, Reakirt, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 334 \ 



Alis saturate fuseo-nigricantibus, ciliis elongatis fuscis, fascia submarginali maculosa fusco-albicante • anticis 

 maculis sex subapicalibus in serie tortuosa albis : subtus anticis maculis tribus subapicalibus albis 

 tantum notatis, margine interno pallidiore ; plica costali obvia : antennis nigris ; palpis subtus, prater 

 apices, pure albis. 



2 anticis maculis novem albis notatis in serie tortuosa extensis a costa usque ad marginem internum, macula 

 decima alba ad cellulee finem. 



biol. centr.-amer., Rhopal., Vol. II., September 1897. 3 l 



