623. 



PIIIBALAPTERYX VIRGATA. 



The oblique-Carpet likeness. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Phalasnidae. 

 Type of the Genus Geometra lineolata Hub. 

 Phibalapteryx Step. — Lozogramma CaiH. — Aspilates and Acidalia 

 Och. — Larentia Goda. — Geometra Hub. — Phalsena Haw. 

 Antennce short, setaceous, inserted on the crown of the head, 

 composed of numerous subovate joints, scaly above and densely 

 ciliated beneath in the males (1). 



MaxillcE spiral, slender, about half the length of the antennae (3) . 

 Labial palpi very short, porrected a little obliquely, clothed with 

 rather short scales and somewhat obtuse clavate (4) ; triarticu- 

 late, 1st and 2nd joints elongated, stout, the former curved nar- 

 rowed at the base, 2nd subeUiptic, 3rd small, ovate-conic (4 a). 

 Head rather small : eyes large and globose. Thorax clothed loith 

 depressed scales. Abdomen short, slender, clavate and tufted in 

 the males, rather stouter but obtuse in the females. Wmgs forming 

 a triangle in repose in some, in others extended ; superior subtrigo- 

 nate, the apex more or less acute ; inferior small, trigonate- ovate. 

 Coxse, anterior very long: tibiae, anterior very short, with a spine on 

 the inside, the others simple, spurred at the apex, hinder pair the 

 longest and spurred also above the apex (8 f) .■ tarsi long and 5- 

 jointed, basal joint very long, the remainder decreasing in length : 

 claws and pulvilli minute. 



Larvae smooth and linear, tvith 6 pectoral, 2 abdominal, and 2 anal 

 feet. Hub. 



ViEGATA Curt. — Guide, Gen. 933, 4. 



In the Author's Cabinet. 



There is so great a difference in the habits of the following 

 insects that they ought to form two genera : the first rests with 

 its wings pl-aced triangularly, and in the two last species at 

 least, they are extended horizontally, although stated to the 

 contrary in the "Illustrations:" in which way the other four 

 species repose I am not able to determine. 



* Posterior tibise a little thickened. Lozogramma Step. 



1 . petraria Hub. — Wood, pi. 22./. 617. 



Ochreous, shuiing ; superior wings with 2 oblique strigae having a dot 

 between them, the 2nd dark brown on the inside, with an indistinct 

 striga beyond it : inferior wings with a suffused brown streak at the 

 anal angle : 16 hnes in expanse. 

 End of May, June, and beginning of August, amongst Fern, 

 everywhere. 



** Posterior tibia? not thickened. Phibalapteryx Step. 



2. angustata Haw. — Wood,/. 616. 



Wings dusky gray, with an oblique narrow fuscous fascia in the middle, 

 having a black dot with a white iris : 11 lines. 

 End of September in a garden at Camden Town, on the 

 authority of the "Illustrations". 



