BAGWORM MOTHS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 125 



were considered to be of prime importance. Vazquez stated that the 

 amount of curvature of the termen of the hindwings is a fixed charac- 

 ter, but this has been observed to vary considerably as demonstrated 

 by large series of specimens of 0. kirhyi and 0. platensis. Among 

 those species represented by sufHcient series, only in Oiketicus abbotii 

 does this character appear relatively stable. The head maculation 

 of the larva also may be quite variable as demonstrated by specimens 

 of 0. toumeyi. Further, the larval cases of 0. ochoterenai and 0. 

 sinaloanus are identical and are of the standard 0. kirbyi construction. 



Specimens identified by Vazquez as Oiketicus ochoterenai intergrade 

 into a light phase of 0. kirbyi, which was discussed in Vazquez's 

 papers (1942, 1953) as Oiketicus mexicanus Gaede (see discussion 

 under 0. townsendi, subspecies mexicanus). These insects represent 

 the lightest extreme of color variation of 0. kirbyi, and perhaps they 

 do inhabit a definite geographical range in the higher and more arid 

 regions along the Mexican Plateau. Further collecting and ecological 

 studies may validate a subspecific name for this somewhat regional 

 color phase of 0. kirbyi, but on the basis of present information 

 there appears to be a gradual intergradation to the "typically" dark 

 specimens of 0. kirbyi as represented by examples from Misantla, 

 Mexico, 



As in the West Indies, specific demarcation may be complicated 

 further in Mexico by hybridization between 0. kirbyi and 0. townsendi 

 mexicanus. 



In an attempt to summarize what is known at present about the 

 Oiketicus kirbyi complex, a few general observations can be stated. 

 First, there is a considerable amount of color variation in O. kirbyi 

 that apparently is correlated with the climate of its habitat. Such 

 a phenomenon is not unexpected for such a widespread species and 

 is in accordance with Golger's Rule. In the more arid sections of 

 its distribution, 0. kirbyi appears as a light phase and in the more 

 humid sections (Costa Rica and Panama) it occurs as its darkest 

 extreme. Pale forms nearly as light as some of those from central 

 Mexico (Guadalajara) also occur in Loja, Ecuador, which provides 

 a good reason for not naming this form as it occurs in Mexico. 

 Throughout most of its range 0. kirbyi evidently occupies a rather 

 humid environment, and thus most specimens are dark. 



Such reasoning at present is not sufficient to explain the color 

 variation observed in 0. abbotii. Some of the palest specimens occur 

 in southern Florida, whereas the darkest forms, wliich are from 

 Texas, have been collected in areas (San Antonio and Brownsville) 

 that are certainly more arid. Further collecting (especially in 

 Texas) may aid in understanding this difference. 



