64 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256 



Adults emerged at intervals from late December to mid-March. The 

 wing expanse is 30 to 45 mm.; the forewings are grey with darker 

 markings, and the hindwings lightly suffused fuscous. 



Sigelgaita huanucensis Heinrich 



In December 1928 blue or blue-green larvae of solitary habit were 

 infesting the fruit and occasionally the yovmg growth of Opunlia ficus- 

 indica at Huanuco and Tarma, Peru. Both very small and fully developed 

 larvae occurred. As a rule, each larva completed development in 

 one fruit, but sometimes two adjacent fruit were attacked by an indi- 

 vidual. On many plants, 90 percent of the fruit was destroyed; in other 

 cases the infestation was as low as one larva per plant. The flimsy 

 cocoons were spun within the hollowed-out fruit. The pupal stage 

 occupied 28 to 36 days, adults emerging in December and January. 

 The moth has a wing expanse of 45 mm. and is very similar to the 

 preceding species except that the forewings are more of a brown shade 

 and the hindwings are almost wholly white. 



Sigelgaita transilis Heinrich 



Green larvae were collected in October 1936 feeding within and 

 destroying the fruit of Trichocereus sp. at Santa Eulalia, Peru. They were 

 fully grown and spun frail cocoons containing red air globules. Adults 

 which emerged in late November were definitely smaller than those of 

 S. chilensis and S. huanucensis, with a wing expanse of about one inch. 



AMALAFRIDA Heinrich 



Heinrich erected this genus for the reception of the species described 

 by Dyar as Cactoblastis leithella. 



Amalafrida leithella (Dyar) 



The information concerning this insect was obtained in December 

 1927 and January 1928, when it was found around La Guiara, Caracas, 

 and Barquisimeto, Venezuela, at Puerto Colombia on the northern 

 coast of Colombia, and on the island of Curasao. Larvae occurred 

 rather freely in various species of Platyopuntia, including Opuntia 

 elatior, 0. schumannii, and 0. boldinghii. More recently according to 

 F. Bennett (1963, in litt.) the species has been found at Vera Cruz, 

 Mexico. 



The larvae, greyish in color with a tendency toward broad transverse 

 bands, were full-grown in December and January. They were of 



