254 NOTODOXTINA 



5. SELIDOSEMIDAE. 



Hindwings : 5 imperfect (not tubular) or obsolete, 6 and 7 

 usually separate, 8 usually obsoletely connected with upper 

 margin of cell near base, approximated to near middle. 



A very large family, equally common throughout all regions. 

 It varies considerably in su})erficial appearance, and is also 

 remarkable for the variability of structure of veins 10 and 11 

 of the forewings in many (not all) species. Imago with body 

 slender to rather stout, forewings broad to rather elongate, 

 triangular ; posterior tibiae of 3 often enlarged and enclosing 

 an expansible tuft of hairs. The structure termed the fovea is 

 a circular impression on the lower surface of the forewings 

 above the dorsum near the base, usually placed about the 

 origin of the basal fork of lb ; it is generally confined to the 

 ($ , and is often subhyaline, sometimes surmounted by a small 

 thickened gland ; it may possibly be a scent-producing organ. 

 It is strictly confined to that branch of which Selidosema is the 

 type, but is not invariably present there. In DeiUnia a some- 

 what similar structure occurs in the hindwings. 



Ovum subcylindrical or elongate -ovate, more or less re- 

 ticulated, sometimes ribbed. Larva elongate, more or less 

 slender, with few hairs, without developed prolegs on 7, 8, and 

 us\ially 9 ; often remarkal)ly like a twig of its food-plant. Pupa 

 subterranean or in a slight cocoon above ground. 



The diagram shows the relations of the principal genera, so 

 far as they can be made out ; but the want of definite 

 characters makes conclusions in this family rather conjectural. 



Phylogeny of Selidosemidae. 



Opisthograptis Oiirapteryx 



I I 



Diastictis Ectropis Abraxas Deiliiiia Metrocanipa 



Bnpaliis Selidosema Pseiulopanthera Euchlaena Selenia 



Synopsia Hybernia Crocota Apocheima Eiinomos 



Bistou Goiioilontis 



[Prosopoloplia group] 



