417 



? Lioptilus homodactylus Walsingham, Pter. Cal. Ore. SO, pi. Ill, f. 9, 1880. 

 Lioptilus homodactylus Coquillett, Papilio II, 62, 1882, (biol.). 



Kellicott, Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci. IV, 48, 1882. 



Dimmock, Psyche III, 404, 1882. 



Id., op. cit. 413, 1882, (biol). 



Hy. Edwards, Bull. 35 U. S. N. M. 137, 1889 (in part). 

 tAlucita homodactyla Fernald, Smith's List Lep. N. A. 87. 1891. 

 ^Ptcrophorus homodaclyhis Meyrick, Gen. Ins. C, 16, 1910. 



Entirely snowy white. Palpi small, slender, appressed, with a few fus- 

 cous scales outside. Front femora slightly infuscated, and under side of pri- 

 maries with a trace of similar color. Primaries above with a slight irroration 

 of brownish gray in costal half, sometimes scarcely perceptible except in first 

 lobe, and a small dot well before base of cleft. The tips of the veins in both 

 lobes usually bear sHght dots or dashes but in most specimens these are very 

 inconspicuous. Secondaries tinged with grayish. Expanse 24-26 mm. 



The mid tibiae have a fringe of scales down the inside, but no tufts, as 

 in the following species. 



Distribution: Que. to B. C, south into N. J., 111. and Cal, June 

 to Aug. 



The ahnost immaculate snowy whiteness of this species cHsting- 

 uishes it from all save pale examples of clliottii, with which it has been 

 regarded as synonymous by some writers. We find the markings of 

 clliottii variable, but the two species can always be separated by the 

 vestiture of the mid tibiae. The genitalia are indistinguishable as far 

 as we can observe. 



A single specimen from the Hope Mts., B. C, July, sent in for 

 identification by Mr. G. O. Day suggested an interesting difficulty 

 connected with the identification of these species. It is veiy common 

 for the body of a white Pterophorid to be stained "cafe-au-lait" color, 

 but in this specimen almost the entire wings were also stained, and 

 only a close examination with a lens disclosed the fact that the tips 

 of the primaries bore asymmetrical white areas. The tips of the veins 

 in this specimen were also unusually heavily marked. 



The life history has been treated by various writers, and some 

 have doubtless confused the species with clliottii. Dr. McDunnough 

 has worked out the early stages of both species with his usual care, 

 and we quote his descriptions of larva and pupa. We have specimens 

 reared by Dr. McDunnough, and find that his identifications agree 

 with our own, based upon Meyrick's comparison with the type of 

 homodactylus and our own examination of Fernald's types. 



