102 HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. 



diversity in the form of the wings, though in general the anterior 

 ones are elongate-triangular, and the posterior somewhat trian- 

 gular-orbiculate ; some few have the posterior margins denticulated • 

 and the anterior wings are mostly adorned with two stigmata, one 

 more or less circular, the other reniform ; a character rarely observed 

 in any other family of this order. The larvse are usually solitary, 

 do not reside in a web, neither are they subcutaneous ; but those 

 of the genus Ceropacha twist up the leaves, similarly to those of 

 the Tortricidffi : the pupa are usually subterraneous. 



Genus LXXXVI. — TRiPHiENA, Ochsenheimer. 



Palpi ascending, compressed, parallel, triarticulate, the two basal joints clothed 

 with very compact capitate scales, terminating acutely in front, the apical 

 somewhat exposed ; the basal joint shorter than the following, and ciu-ving 

 upwards ; the second as long as the other two, a little bent inwards towards 

 the apex ; the terminal short, rather slender, somewhat attenuated at the tip, 

 which is obtuse : maxillce very long. AntenncB simple in both sexes, ciliated 

 beneath in the males : head densely clothed with scales : thorax not crested, 

 with large anterior tippets : body rather stout, flat on the back ; downy at 

 the base: wings horizontal, entire, anterior elongate-lanceolate, rounded pos- 

 teriorly, with two stigmata ; posterior orbiculate-triangular, slightly emargi- 

 nated, large, folded during repose, of lively colours, usually luteous, with 

 black margins. Caterpillar naked, cylindric, with sixteen legs: pupa sub- 

 terraneous, not folUculated, 



In placing this genus at the commencement of the Noctuidse, 

 I am guided more by the pomeridian habits of the perfect insects 

 and their lively colouring, (in which they resemble the Catocalse, 

 at the other extremity of the family) than by any real affinity to 

 the Pomeridianse : it may, however, be remarked, that, in common 

 with Agrotis and some of the intermediate genera, the larvse of the 

 Triphsense are evidently, though not entirely, radicivorous, and 

 rarely venture from their lurking-places during the day; and the 

 imago, when at rest, is not very dissimilar in appearance to a 

 Lithosia: the gay-coloured posterior wings, with dark borders, 

 render the species very conspicuous : they fly during the afternoon 

 with great velocity in a straight line, as if casually, and again in 

 the evening. 



Sp. 1. orbona. Alis anticis hepaticis, posticis luteo-/lavis, lunuld cenirali stri- 

 gdque posticd nigris. (Exp. alar. 1 unc. 7 — 8 lin.) 



