nantesta. 173 



GENUS NANTESIA. 



Ascalapha, Hiibner, Tentamen, p. 2 (1822?), fiotn. prceocc. 

 Ophioiks, Guenee, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, x. p. 77 (1841) ; 

 id. Spec. Gen. Lepid. Noct. iii. p. 227 (1S52), nom. prceocc. 



The antennae are ciliated in the male, and simple in the 

 female, and the palpi are ascending and approximating, with 

 the second joint clothed with scales. The body is stout, the 

 collar is raised, and the abdomen is not longer than the hind- 

 wings. The wings are moderately long and broad, with the 

 " Noctua "-pattern distinctly indicated ; the tip is but slightly 

 pointed. The hind-wings are brown or yellow, sometimes with 

 a black mark. The larvce have the first two pairs of pro-legs 

 shorter than the others, and a bifid tubercle on the back of the 

 penultimate segment. 



The only species which extends as far north as Temperate 

 Europe is the following. 



THE LUNAR DOUBLE STRIPE. NANTESL^ LUNARLS. 



Noctua liinaris, Denis & Schiffermiiller, Syst. \'erz. Schmett. 



Wien. p. 94, no. i (1776); Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iv. 



fig. 322 (1804?). 

 Noctua augur, Esper, Schmett. iv. (i), p. 67, Taf. 87, figs. 4-6, 



Taf. 88, fig. I (17S7?), 

 Noctua meretrix, Fabricius, Spec. Ins. App. p. 507 (1781 ?). 

 Ophiusa hinaris, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (3), p. 302 



(1826). 

 Pseudophia lufiaris, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 275, 



pi. 40, figs. 8-8 c (1881). 



This Moth is found throughout Central and Southern 

 Europe and Northern Africa, but is a great rarity in the 



