96 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol. 117 



Genus Melitonympha Meyrick 



Melitonympha Meyrick, 1927, Exotic Microlepidoptera, vol. 3, p. 360. 



Type-species: Melitonympha heteraida Meyrick, ibid, [by mono- 

 typyl. 



Melitonympha cockerella (Busck) 



Abebaea cockerella Busck, 1903, Journ. New York Ent. Soc, vol. 11, p. 54. 



Melitonympha heteraida Meyrick, 1927, Exotic Microlepidoptera, vol. 3, p. 360. 

 — Clarke, 1965, Catalogue of the type specimens of Microlepidoptera in 

 the British Museum (Natural History) described by Edward Me3Tick, vol.5, 

 p. 347, pi. 172, figs. 1-lc. 



Melitonympha is, perhaps, most nearly related to the two South 

 American mainland genera Chalconympha Meyrick and Thalassonym- 

 pha Meyrick, but also shows a relationship to the more widely distrib- 

 uted Cerostoma. The three genera Melitonympha, Chalconympha, 

 and Thalassonympha all have in common stalked veins 7 and 8 of the 

 forewing but in Cerostoma these veins are separate. Melitonympha, 

 Chalconympha and Cerostoma have veins 6 and 7 of hindwing stalked 

 but in Thalassonympha these veins are well separated and nearly 

 parallel. In both Melitonympha and Chalconympha the maxillary 

 palpi are well developed but in Thalassonympha they are obsolete. 

 All three possess a well-developed antennal pecten. 



The male genitalia are normal for the family. Socii and gnathos 

 present and well developed. 



Perhaps the presence of this North American genus in the Juan 

 Fernandez Islands may be surprising but I have already demonstrated 

 the presence of Martyrhild<L (Oecophoridae) , another genus described 

 from North America, on Alasatierra (plus five species in this genus 

 on the South American mainland). At this time I have on hand an 

 additional undescribed species of Melitonympha from Chile and this 

 genus may be much more widespread than presently indicated. 



Melitonympha telluris, new species 



Figures 102-104 



Alar expanse 16 mm. 



Labial palpus ocherous white; second segment with brownish 

 suffusion on outer side. Antenna brownish with narrow, shining 

 ocherous-white annulations. Head ocherous white with mixture 

 of a few brownish scales. Thorax and ground color of forewing 

 ocherous white; thorax and basal half of tegula shaded with pale 

 argillaceous; forewing irregularly blotched and shaded with argillace- 

 ous; veins in costal half of wing indistinctly indicated by ill-defined, 



