74 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 24 4 



Astala confederata, with its broadly and closely scaled wings, seems to 

 represent one extreme of the group, and A. vigasi, a very frail-looking 

 and thinly scaled insect, the opposite. The nearest species to A. 

 vigasi, both morphologically and distributionally, is A. zacualpania, 

 which is somewhat intermediate between A. vigasi and A. edwardsi 

 or A. tristis in general habitus. 



Because these differences appear to be gradual and particularly 

 because strong similarities unite these species, all members included 

 herein are believed to represent a single genus. 



Some uncertainty arises in separating Astala from the almost 

 morphologically identical group Hyaloscotes. Superficially, the two 

 species of Hyaloscotes appear rather remote from all members of 

 Astala, except A. vigasi and A. zacualjMuia. Hyaloscotes, however, 

 may be separated from these two Mexican species on the basis of the 

 male genitalia and the different structure of the wing scale apices. In 

 addition, there maj^ exist reliable generic differences in the female 

 genitalia. The females of Astala confederata and A. edwardsi possess 

 genitalia that are less sclerotized and accessory glands that are less well 

 developed than those of Hyaloscotes pithopoera. Before such a basic 

 distinction can be confirmed, it will be necessary to examine the 

 females of more species belonging to these two groups. 



Whether or not this separation is justified will depend also upon 

 further knowledge of the immature stages. For the present, however, 

 the recognition of two separate genera appears to be the best procedure 

 to follow, especially when one considers the great lack of morpho- 

 logical divergence that is demonstrated by many members of this 

 family. 



Key to the Species of Astala 



la. Forewings with discal scales slender, somewhat hairlike (fig. 339). 



2a. Vesture of thorax consisting of whitish hairs 26. A. tristis 



2b. Vesture of thorax greyish to fuscous. 



3a. Wings and body densely scaled, fuscous in color (fig. 23) . 



25. A. edwardsi 

 3b. Wings and body more thinly scaled, greyish. 



4a. Wing expanse 16 to 20 mm.; wings semitransparent (fig. 26). 



28. A. vigasi 

 4b. Wing expanse 23 to 28 mm.; wings more heavily scaled (fig. 25). 



27. A. zacualpania 

 lb. Forewings with discal scales broader, oblanceolate (fig. 336). 



5a. Wings with outer marginal area largely devoid of scales and translucent 



(fig. 21) 23. A. hoffmanni 



5b. Wings more evenly scaled. 



6a. Outer marginal fringe of wings white; larval case smoothly cylindrical. 



24. A. polingi 



6b. Outer marginal fringe fuscous; larval case irregularly covered with 



longitudinally arranged sections of small stems . . 22. A. confederata 



