3-/ ^<^ ^ 



113. 



ALCIS SERICEARIA. 



The Satin Beauty. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Phalaenidae Lat., Leach. 



Type of the Genus Phalsena repandata Linn. 



Alcis 'Nobis. Phalaena Linn., Fab. Geometra Haw., Hub. Heme- 

 rophila Steph. 



AntenncE inserted between the eyes, filiform, bipectinated in the 

 males, simple towards the apex ; branches ciliated, arising near 

 the centre of the joint (1) : simple, hairy beneath, with a bristle 

 arising from each joint in the females (la). 

 Labrum and Mandibles larger than usual (2). 

 MaxillcE long slender, furnished with distinct tentacula towards 

 the apex (3). 



Labial palpi porrected, visible viewed from above, not hairy, 

 thickly covered with broad scales very much lengthened beneath, 

 terminal joint not quite concealed (4), 3-jointed, basal joint 

 long, recurved, 2nd nearly as long, 3rd ovate, very minute (4 a). 

 Males smaller than the females. Eyes rather large, parallel in front 

 (7). Wings ample, extended horizontally, superior trigonate, infe- 

 rior slightly indented. Abdomen long, linear, somewhat truncated 

 in the males, shorter and conical in the females. Legs rather long 

 and slender. Anterior tibia short, with a long spine on the internal 

 edge. Posterior very long, robust, hollow, furnished, with 2 pair of 

 spurs, a longitudinal suture and a tuft of long silky hair arising at 

 the base, and concealed in the tibia when at rest (8t). Tarsi 5- 

 jointed, posterior short. 

 Caterpillars loopers with 6 pectoral, 2 abdominal and 2 anal feet. 



Sebiceabia Nobis. 



Silky brown, speckled irregularly with ochre. Rachis of antennae 

 pale, rays fuscous. Palpi and head brown; neck, base of an- 

 tennae, and a space above the eyes ochre ; sides of thorax pale. 

 Abdomen somewhat black, minutely speckled with ochre, the 

 margins of the segments and the apex of the same colour. Su- 

 perior wings the darkest, a space at the base very dark, a trans- 

 verse spot near the middle black, an indented transverse line 

 beyond the spot and an obscure interrupted waved line near the 

 posterior margin : nervures dark. Inferior wings fuscous at their 

 base, a transverse obscure spot towards the centre, beyond which 

 is a waved transverse line, dark on the internal, light on the ex- 

 ternal edge, limb speckled with longish ochraceous spots. Cilia 

 somewhat striped with ochre, margins of wings with 6 or 7 irre- 

 gular black spots on each. 

 Var. /3. Very pale testaceous, clouded with ochre instead of brown. 



In the Cabinets of Mr. Stone and the Author. 



