XOTES AND NEW SPECIES OF AMERICAN MOTHS OF 

 THE GENUS SCOPARIA HAWORTH 



By Harrison G. Dyar 



Custodian of Lepidoptera, United States National Museum 



The genus Scopaiia has been generally placed in a separate sub- 

 family of the Pyralidae, the Scopariinae, following the classifica- 

 tion of Sir George F. Hampson. More recently Edward Meyrick 

 has included the genus in the large subfamily Pyraustinae. The 

 species are small gray moths of obscure appearance, some of them 

 being very variable within specific limits. The life histories of none 

 of the American species have been worked out. The allied Euro- 

 pean forms feed on lichens or moss in the larval state. The follow- 

 ing new species have accumulated in the collection of the United 

 States National Museum, largely from the collecting of Dr. William 

 Schaus and presented by him. Notes on the synonymy and distribu- 

 tion of some of the older species have been added. 



SCOPARIA COMMOnXALIS Dyar 



Scoparia cammortalis Dyab, Ins. lus. Meus., vol. 9, p. 67, 1921. 



Doubtfully distinct from rectilinea Zeller and occurring in the 

 .same region, the northern Pacific coast. It is browner than recti- 

 Unea, the markings less distinct, and in the types the outer line is 

 distinctly flexous. In subsequent specimens, however, the line is 

 about as straight as in rectilinea. 



SCOPARIA DENIGATA, new species 



Similar to ngidalis Barnes and McDunnough, but lighter gray- 

 brown, the inner oblique and outer straight line and the discal patch 

 more relieved. Expanse, 14-18 mm. 



Type.—MdA^, Cat. No. 41335, U.S.N.M., Huachuca Mountains. 

 Ariz. Paratypes, two males and one female, respectively, Arizona. 

 August (O. C. Poling), San Diego, Calif., March 26, 1915 (H. G. 

 Dyar) ; White ^lountains, Ariz., altitude 7.200 feet, August, 1925 

 (6. C. Poling, gift of S. E. Cassino). 



No. 2769.— Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 74, Art. 24 



l.-,68.".— i;s 



