DIOPTID^., 187 



CYLLOPODA VESPERTINA. 



{Plate LXXXIX. Fi^. 2.) 



Phalcidofia vesperilna^ Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. 



xxxi. p. 135 (1864). 

 Xanthyris osera^ Boisduval, Lepid. Gnat. p. 93 (1870). 



This Moth comes from New Grenada. The expanse of the 

 wings is i^ inch, and the length of the body a little over half 

 an inch. 



" Male. — Black, slender. Palpi smooth, porrect, hardly ex- 

 tending beyond the head ; third joint conical, not more than 

 one-fourth of tlie length of the second. Antennae very slightly 

 pectinated. Thorax with a luteous mark on each side at the 

 base of the fore-wing. Pectus luteous in front. Abdomen 

 beneath and legs cinereous. Fore-wings with a broad luteous 

 streak, which is near and parallel to the inferior border, and is 

 very convex in front ; a shorter and narrow oblique luteous 

 streak, which is opposite to the inferior angle. Hind-wings 

 with a broad luteous stripe, which extends along the inferior 

 border and thence to the disk, and is much excavated in 

 front." {Walker.) 



FAMILY XIX. DIOPTID/E. 



This is another Family entirely confined, like the last, to 

 Tropical America. The species have generally a slender body 

 and pectinated antennae, at least in the male, and the wings 

 are long, rather narrow, and rounded at the extremity, and 

 they are usually more or less transparent, with opaque 

 borders, and arc deceptively similar in general appearance 

 to various species of Ithommice^ among which they fly by day. 

 These insects are specially interesting, because it was from 

 Bates' observations of their habits, and their association with 

 \}i\Q IthomiincE^ that he was led to propound the great theory of 



