114 



members of the group only the prothoracic legs extend cephalad to 

 the eye-pieces. All of these genera except Acronycta have prominent 

 projections on the head and prothorax. The epicranial suture is 

 present only in Eulonche. The labial palpi are well developed in all 

 and the prothoracic femora are visible only in Eulonche, Acronycta, 

 and Achatodes. The maxillae do not reach the caudal margin of the 

 wings in any of the genera. The metathoracic legs are always visible, 

 and in Eulonche the mesothoracic legs are adjacent on the meson. In 

 Plusiodonta they extend to the caudal margin of the wings, but in 

 none of the other genera. The antennae are usually equal in length 

 to the mesothoracic legs and never reach the caudal margin of the 

 wings. The genus Eulonche and a few species of Acronycta are very 

 peculiar in that there are setae on the body arranged as in Arctiidae 

 (Fig. 103). These are easily observed on the mesothorax and the 

 parts of the abdomen where the sculpturing is not so dense. There 

 are also a few short spines present on the tenth segment at the base 

 of the cremaster. The genera of Acronyctinae may be separated 

 as follows : 



a. Cephalic end of body with two large, rounded, rugose projections 

 on the head, one on each side of the meson. 



b. Dorsum of abdomen very rugose on segments 1-7 except for a 

 smooth caudal margin; groups of long setae present on thorax 



and abdomen; epicranial suture present Eulonclie Grote. 



bb. Dorsum of abdomen never rugose, but with large lunate punc- 

 tures on the cephalic third of segments 3-7 ; groups of long 

 setae never present ; epicranial suture absent. 



Achatodes Guenee. 



aa. Cephalic end of body with a single median projection, or without 



projections. 



b. Cephalic end of body with a single median projection, either on 



the head or prothorax. 



e. A prominent projection on the body near the cephalic margin 



of the prothorax ; abdominal segments 1-3 with a broad smooth 



transverse ridge near the caudal margin; movable abdominal 



segments with thin flanged plates; cremaster very short and 



broad, with a short, stout, slightly curved seta inserted in each 



caudo-lateral angle Homopyralis Grote. 



cc. Projection always present on the head; setae at the caudal end 

 of the body always hooked, 

 d. Distinct cremaster not present; a large sharp point at each 

 caudo-lateral angle of the body, with some smaller points, 

 and three short hooked setae inserted on each side: body dis- 

 tinctly punctate, with a smooth band at the caudal margin 



