674 



THE PAN0RP01D COMPLEX, iii., 



Superfamily PSYCHINA. 



We come next to a group of rather archaic Heteroneura, in 

 which at least one main branch of M is retained within the basal 

 cell, but the radial cell of the forewing is completely obliterated, 

 and M x has become permanently attached to Rs in the hindwing, 

 not only in the imaginal venation, but also in the pupal trachea- 

 tion. 



The families included in this group are the Limacodidae, 

 Zygaenidae, Megalopygidae and Psychidae. Each family is itself 

 specialised in a very definite direction; but I selected the Lima- 

 codidae as probably the most archaic, and, at the same time, the 

 easiest (in Australia) in which to obtain plentiful supplies of 

 pupae. Unfortunately, out of about sixty cocoons of this family 

 collected in 1917-18, not a single larva has so far pupated, al- 



Text-Fig.95. 

 Tracheation of the radial sector in pupal wing of Doratifera longerans 

 (Walk.), (fam. Limacodidae) , to show the transference of R3 from 

 R2+3 across to R44-5. (x 10^). Lettering as on p. 535. 



though they remain perfectly healthy within them. The reason 

 is probably to be found in the severe drought of last summer. 

 I have, therefore, to be content with dissections of pupa? of the 

 genera Doratifera and Apoda made in 1917, at a period before I 

 was fully aware of the importance of drawing the basal con- 

 nections carefully . 



The condition of trachea Rs in the forewing of the Limacodidae 

 is shown in Text-fig. 95. It will be seen that R 3 has migrated 

 across from R 2 +3 to R4 + s, thus automatically preventing the 

 formation of the typical archaic radial cell or areole. In the 

 imaginal venation, this new condition is preserved intact, and 

 the point of origin of R 3 moves even further distad along R 4+ 5, 

 As the condition of Rs in the other families of this group is 

 closely similar to this, it will probably be found to be due to 

 the same cause, when their pupal wings come to be examined. 



Text-fig. 96 shows the hindwing of a fairly advanced pupa of 



