506 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 112 



species of Hemeroplanis the coloration of that portion of the forewing 

 (or at least the median area of the wing) is some shade of brown or 

 gray. Characters for group separation of the females, if existent, 

 have not been recognized. Some of the females of the scopulepes 

 group are colored as in the males, and may therefore be separated 

 from females of other species of Hemeroplanis, but other females of 

 this group are not so distinctly colored. 



Nothing is known of the immature stages or the larval food plants 

 of either the scopulepes group or the other species presently placed 

 in Hemeroplanis. 



A total of 127 specimens were available for study. Most were from 

 the collections of the U.S. National Museum, but 25 specimens from 

 the British Museum (Natural History) were sent by D. S. Fletcher, 

 1 specimen of aurora was loaned by J. G. Franclemont from the collec- 

 tion of the Department of Entomology, Cornell University, and 2 

 specimens were received from the private collection of Fernando de 

 Za3 r as Muiios of Havana, Cuba. Most of the line drawings were 

 prepared by Arthur Cushman of the Entomology Research Division. 

 The illustration of the genitalia of the tj^pe of aurora is presented 

 through the courtesy of Mr. Fletcher. The adults illustrated on plate 

 1 were photographed by J. R. Foy, Photographic Service Section, 

 Photograph Division, Office of Information, U.S. Department of 

 Agriculture. 



Key to the Species of the scopulepes Group 



MALES 



1. Middle tibia longer than basal segment of tarsus (fig. 3) ; a tuft of hairs present 



on lower surface of forewing in cell between bases of Cui and CU2. 



scopulepes 



Middle tibia modified, distinctly shorter than basal segment of tarsus (figs. 1 



and 2) ; lower surface of forewing lacking tuft of hairs as above ... 2 



2. Inner (posterior) spur of middle tibia very long, as long as basal segment 



of tarsus (fig. 2) ; basal segment of tarsus not distinctly enlarged (fig. 2) ; 

 apex of femur of hindleg not bearing a dark tuft of scales (fig. 2) ; uncus 

 of genitalia short, stout, somewhat sickle shaped in lateral view (fig. 



5c) aurora 



Inner (posterior) spur of middle tibia shorter, about one-half as long as 

 basal segment of tarsus (fig. 1) ; basal segment of tarsus enlarged, approxi- 

 mately as broad as tibia (fig. 1) ; apex of femur of hindleg with a dark tuft 

 of scales (fig. 1); uncus of genitalia more elongate, nearly straight, but 

 slightly cygnate apically (fig. 4c) zayasi 



