20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 119 



Place, Mono Co., Scf, Aug. 9, 1959, C. D. MacNeill, CAS; West Rivereide, Icf, 

 Oct. 28, 1905 (AB sUde Aug. 1, 1933), USNM. 



Discussion: L. puertella is a highly variable species in regard to 

 maculation, ranging from pale yellomsh- white specimens with two 

 prominent dark brown spots on the forewings to brown specimens 

 with the dark brown spots barely discernible. 1 have seen numerous 

 intermediate stages between the two extremes. 



L. deoia and dialis superficially resemble puertella. L. dialis is 

 easily separated because it lacks a frontal process. The lower section 

 of the frontal process of puertella has a strong, high ventral margin; 

 that of deoia has a rounded, poorly defined ventral margin, 



Lita deoiOf new species 



Figure 17, 82, 183, 184 



Maculation: as in figure 17. Head: buff white, maxillary palpus 

 folded over base of tongue; outer surface of first segment of labial 

 palpus pale brown, apex of third segment brown; scape of antenna 

 with a dorsomedial brown patch, shaft greasy brown; fron to vertical 

 protuberance much as for invariabilis (fig. 59), dorsal protuberance 

 more nearly circular, ventral margin slightly flattened. Thorax: 

 buff white. Forewing: buff white, tmged wdth pale yellow and brown, 

 dark markings brown. Hindwing: shining pale fuscous, veins 

 slightly darker, cilia buff. Prothoracic leg : coxa and femur white on 

 outer surface, inner surface of coxa white with scattered brown scales, 

 inner surface of femur brown w^ith scattered white scales; tibia brown 

 with a postmedial and apical white band; base and apex of basitarsus 

 and apex of second tarsal segment white. Mesothoracic leg: as for 

 prothoracic leg but with more white scales on inner surface of femur, 

 inner surface of tibia white. Alar expanse : 20.5 mm. Male genitalia : 

 as in figure 82 (RWH slide 2556). Apex of flange of aedeagus broad 

 and blunt, much as for variabilis. Female genitalia: no specimens 

 available. 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Type: Male, Smokey Valley, 6000 ft., Tulare Co., Calif., Sept. 28, 

 1946, C. Henne (RWH shde 2556), USNM type 67645. 



Discussion : Superficially, deoia looks like the fight form of puertella 

 or dialis. It differs from dialis in having frontovertical processes. 

 It may be distinguished from puertella (fig. 65) by the ventral margin 

 of the lower frontal processes being poorly defined; in puertella this 

 margin is raised and heavily sclerotized. The frontal process of 

 deoia is broad, that of puertella is narrow; the medial process of 

 puertella is raised more than its apical width, that of deoia is raised 

 less than one-third its apical width. 



L. deoia and puertella are very close, and it may be that deoia 



