58 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 257 



Sycacantha Diakonoff, 1959, new status 



Sycacantha Diakonoff, 1959, Arkiv Zool., vol. 12, p. 181, pi. 5, fig. 17 (subgenus 

 of Phaecasiophora Grote); 19G6, Zool. Verh., no. 85, pp. 7, 17, 58 (distinct 

 genus) . 



Type species: Argyroploce hilarograpta Meyrick, 1933= Sycacantha 

 auriflora Diakonoff, 1959, Java. 



This form has been originally described by me as a subgenus of 

 Phaecasiophora Grote. Now I am satisfied that it represents a 

 distinct genus. It contains several Indo-Malayan species, which 

 superficially are very similar but show sufficient genital differences 

 in the two sexes. 



The entire complex of these closely allied species has been hitherto 

 confused with "Argyroploce" albitibiana=6rapholitha (Sisona) al- 

 bitibiana Snellen, 1902. The superficial resemblance of this species 

 with. Sycacantha misled even Snellen himself; only the holotype of 

 albitibiana belongs to the genus Sisona, but the two cf and one 9 

 paratypes belong to a Sycacantha subspecies, described below. 



The genus Sycacantha may be redescribed as follows. 



Head wdth rather short, appressed scales, forming a small ridge 

 across forehead. Palpus rather long, slender, ascending, closely 

 appressed to face, with short scales, smooth above, slightly roughish 

 beneath, apical segment very short. Antenna pubescent in male and 

 female. Ocellus posterior. Proboscis developed. Hindtibia and 

 tarsus sometimes strongly extended by dense and long hau--scales, 

 modified and arranged in patches of different color (white, black, etc.), 

 sometimes hindtibiae normal. Abdomen with a long lateral pencil 

 of hairs at extreme base (usually not apparent wdthout removing 

 the abdomen). 



Foremng similar to that in Olethreutes Hiibner: vein 2 from 2/3, 

 3 from angle, 4 separate, 5 parallel, 7 separate, to termen, 9 from 

 1/3 distance between 8 and 10, 11 from slightly before middle. 



Hindwing with cubital pecten, 2 from beyond 2/3, 3 and 4 very 

 close but separate, from angle, 5 approximated at base, 6 and 7 

 closely approximated toward base. 



Male genitalia: Valva usually long and slender with a dilated 

 base, bulbous at the end of sacculus; cucuUus with diversely shaped 

 series of rigid spines, which sometimes are bifid at the top; sometimes 

 cucullus bristles divided into two groups, internal, along the usual 

 area, and external bristles, which are shorter and scalelike, and 

 situated just below the lower edge of the cucullus; top of cucullus 

 usually clavate. Top of tegumen (partly uncus?) complicated, 

 forming a dilated flap of diverse shape, socii small and slender, pending, 

 crowned with long bristles, sometimes there are two more or less 



