OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XIV, 1912. 169 



MORE ABOUT THE SLOTH MOTH. 



(Lepidoptera, Pyralidse.) 



BY HARRISON G. DYAR. 



Some time ago I described a pyralid from the fur of the 

 living sloth as Cryptoses clwhvpi (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., ix, 

 142, and x, 81, 1908). At the time I overlooked the descrip- 

 tion of a sloth moth by Spuler as Brachypodicola hahneli. 

 The English entomologists have concluded that these two 

 forms were the same species and I have lately received speci- 

 mens of rny species positively labeled with the name of Spuler's. 

 However, I am now satisfied that there are at least three sloth 

 moths, each referable to a distinct, though allied, genus. 



Of Cryptoses cholcepi I have now 30 specimens, 19 males 

 and 11 females, received through the kindness of Mr. William 

 Schaus from different parts of Costa Rica. The sexes differ in 

 venation, in wing shape, and in the distinctness of the mark- 

 ings. The figure of the venation given by me (Proc. Ent. 

 Soc. Wash., ix, fig. 9) is that of the female. The male differs 

 in lacking entirely vein 11, there being only one free vein and 

 three stalked veins from the upper angle of the cell. The 

 wings of the male are more sharply pointed than those of the 

 female. The markings which I described (Proc. Ent. Soc. 

 Wash., x, 81) are those of the male. Those of the female are 

 duller, the pale streaks less contrasted. The moths vary con- 

 siderably in size in both sexes. The three original types are 

 all females. 



Of Bradypodicola hahneli I have not obtained any material. 

 A study of Spuler's article, however, shows its distinctness 

 from the above. Spuler figures the venation of the male. 

 In it vein 2 is shown stalked with 3-5, while in Cryptoses it 

 arises well before the angle of the cell; vein 6 also in Brady- 

 podicola arises further below the angle of the cell than in 

 Cryptoses. But these are minor differences, while in general 

 the venation is alike. However, the shape of the head is 

 very different. In Bradypodicola it is very prominent at the 

 vertex in side view, the front being concave. In Cryptoses the 

 vertex is very slightly prominent and the front continuously 

 convex. 



The occurrence of a third form strengthens the above con- 

 clusion of the distinctness of Bradypodicola and Cryptoses. 

 This third form is from Brazil, and I have before me a female 

 specimen sent by Dr. R. von Ihering. Doctor von Ihering 

 will name and describe it, so I will not enter into its discussion 

 at present, otherwise than to say that it differs from both the 



