380 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 86 



Only the type species is recognized as belonging to the genus. It 

 is known only from Argentina. 



1. SALAMBONA ANALAMPRELLA (Dyar) 



Plates 30, 42, 49 ; Figubbs 26-26c, 69, ll&-116a, 117-117a 



ZopTiodia analamprella Dtar, Insecutor Inscitiae Menstnius, vol. 10, p. 17, 1922. 



Male. — Palpi, head, thorax, and fore wings dark stone gray; the 

 scales under magnification dark grayish fuscous tipped with dull 

 white. Fore wing with the costa broadly margined (to top of cell) 

 with white, the white streak diminishing toward base of wing and 

 terminating before apex; no transverse lines, or discal or terminal 

 dots. Hind wing semihyaline with a smoky shade along costa and 

 a narrow smoke-brown line along termen. 



Alar expanse, 25-27 mm. 



Genitalia (figs. 26-26c) as figured; characters as given for the 

 genus. 



Female. — Color and markings as in the male, except that the 

 smoky shade is somewhat more extended on the hind wing. 



Alar expanse, 25-27 mm. 



Genitalia (fig. 69) with bursa very small and ductus bursae long 

 and very slender. 



Type. — In United States National Museum. 



Type locality. — Carmen Pat agones, Argentina. 



Food plant. — Opuntia {Platypuntia) sulphurea G. Don and prob- 

 ably other species of Platypuntia. 



Distribution. — Argentina: Carmen Patagones (Jan.), Andalgala 

 (Mar.), La Rioja. 



Seven specimens examined. 



Remarks. — Dodd states that "this insect is usually predacious on 

 cochineal {Dactylopius spp.) but not uncommonly the larvae feed in 

 Opuntia fruit and flower buds." From tlie genitalic and other struc- 

 tural characters of the moth I am inclined to doubt this. I think 

 analamprella will prove to be primarily a cactus feeder and only sec- 

 ondarily predacious on the cochineal scales on the cactus. It is the 

 other way around with Laetilia coccidivora (Comstock). The latter 

 is a true predator and follows its coccid hosts no matter to what plant 

 they may go. It also varies its diet somewhat by occasional feedings 

 on buds and flowers. According to Dodd it sometimes feeds in 

 Opuntia flowers ; but this is a secondary habit and the association with 

 Opuntia accidental. Laetilia is close to but not a part of the cactus- 

 feeding group of Phycitinae. Salamhona, on the other hand, is, in 

 all adult characters, definitely a member of the group. 



