NORTH AMERICAN LF;prDOPTERA. ' 329 



Group ATRIFASCIATA. 



Only a single species constitutes this group, unique in the broad 

 black median band of primaries. The secondaries are white basally, 

 with a very broad black outer band. The essential characters have 

 been already pointed out and the more particular description of the 

 species is as follows : 



O. atrifasciata Morr. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. 187."), 431, 3Ietahadena ; 



Grt., Can. Ent. 1S78, x, 234, Homohadena ; Bull. Bkln. Ent. Soc. 1880, iii, 38, 



Homohadena. 

 Head and thorax deep sooty brown or blackish. Piimaries bluish gray, the 

 median space deep, rich, very dark brown or blackish, forming thus a broad 

 transverse band, somewhat variable in width. The basal space is powdered with 

 deep brown, the basal half line visible as a very narrow brown line. T. a. line 

 marked only as the inner margin of the median band, outwardly curved and 

 somewhat oblique, varying in the specimens. T p. line similarly marked only 

 as the outer margin of the median band, somewhat incurved from costa and 

 again outwardly oblique below middle ; the median shade thus broadest on co.sta, 

 narrowest at middle, and again slightly broader at iniier margin. The ordinary 

 spots ail wanting. The s. t. and terminal spaces are variably shaded and pow- 

 dered with brown and the veins are more or less black marked : there is also a 

 series of interspaceal narrow black lines. S. t. line diffuse, pale, marked by a 

 preceding brown shade, which is broad and distinct on costa and narrows and 

 becomes fainter toward the hind margin ; the fringes are short, concolorous. 

 Secondaries white basally, the margins and outer half blackish. Beneath, the 

 primaries are smoky brown, the terminal space powdered with gray ; seconda- 

 ries as above. Expands 1.35 — 1.40 inches ; 34 — 35 mm. 



Hub. — Maine, New York (Adirondack?). 



A very strongly marked species, at once recognizable by the dis- 

 tinct, blacki.sh median space. The species is not rare where it occurs, 

 but is not often taken. Mr. Hill took it in some numbers on fences 

 in the Adirondacks and most of the specimens in collections are 

 from him. The species is more plump and the vestiture somewhat 

 heavier than in the typical forms, the collar with a distinct central 

 ridge. 



The genitalia are like those of the genus. The harpes have a 

 roundedly oblique tip, inwardly fringed with spinules ; the clasper 

 arises as usual from the middle of infei'ior margin and abruptly i»ar- 

 rows from the inner edge into a long, straight and acute spur, the 

 whole extending about three-fourths across the harpe. 



The species was made the type of the genus Metahitdena iNIorr. 

 Mr. Grote referred it to Homohadena, overlooking the distinct claw 

 to fore tibia, strongly lashed eyes and other features which make it 

 agree rather with this genus than with Hoiaohadena. 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XVI. (42) AUGUST, 1889. 



