NYCTEMERA. IQI 



This species is a common West African Moth, and is closely 

 allied to A. helcita^ Clerck, the type of the genus. 



The head is black. The thorax and abdomen are black, 

 with three rows of white spots, one on the back and one on 

 each side. The fore-wings are of a beautiful deep red, 

 the whole of the posterior part beyond the middle black, 

 with a curved row of white spots, which are largest near the 

 costa and smallest towards the hinder angle. The hind-wings 

 are of the same colour as the fore- wings, with a broad black 

 border containing eight oval white spots. The antennae are 

 black, and the palpi yellow. 



The Moth expands about 3^ inches. Like most other 

 African insects, it used to be extremely rare in collections. 

 Drury obtained his specimen from Mr. Smeathman, who sup- 

 plied him with many insects from Sierra Leone, and likewise 

 with much information on their habits. He states that A. 

 druryi is found in the savannahs, and is a sluggish insect, 

 easily taken. 



GENUS NYCTEMERA. 



Nycte/nera, Hlibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 178 (1822?); 



Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. ii. p. 391 (1854); 



Meyrick, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W. (2) i. p. 759 



(1886). 

 Leplosoma, Boisduval, Voy. Astrolabe, Lepid. p. 197 (1832). 



The typical species of Nycteinera and its allies are nearly all 

 very similar, being white, variously spotted or bordered with 

 brown. They measure about two inches in expanse, and 

 are confined to the tropics of the Old World. Though 

 Very numerous, most of the species have a strong family 

 likeness, and can easily be recognised as belonging to this 

 group. 



