-64- 



Ira gundlachiana n. sp. 



Head and orbit of eyes black; palpi white; a white vertical spot between 

 antennce, which are moderate, bi-serrate and of brown color. Thorax and 

 patagise of rose color, with indications of black centre line, tipped in white. 

 Abdomen above, thoracical half of beautiful rose color, anal half black, with 

 slight rose colored tuft; below, entirely white, with black segments. Legs 

 white, with black spots, especially discernible in posterior tibiae. Primaries 

 nearly three times as large as secondaries, of the most beautiful, intense rose 

 color. Costa, anterior and half of inner margin narrowly edged with black; 

 between costa and exterior margin a large, apical, triangular field, with two 

 distinct, white, centre spots; an irregular, nearly reniform-shaped bulge on 

 lesser half of exterior margin, resting with its point on apex of inner margin, 

 with a white centre spot. The nerves of anterior edge of median disc tinged 

 in black and resting on them a small, irregular, black discal spot. Seconda- 

 ries of the same rose color, irregularly triangular shaped, and more drawn 

 out towards apex; about one-third the size of primaries, margined with black 

 and containing irregular, small, white, centre spots on anal margin. From 

 base to apex a straight, semi-transparent fold or groove through wing, divid- 

 ing it, as it were, in two fields; upper edge of fold slightly tinged with a black 

 line, which becorhes more prominent and irregular at conjunction with apical 

 margin; centre line of this so-called groove of whitish tinge; beneath the 

 same markings as above. Expanse of primaries 1% inch. Expanse of sec- 

 ondaries ^ inch. Length of body l{ inch. 



Habitat. — Plantation Jagey, southeast Cuba. 



This gorgeous Syntomid, resembling the Zygaenid genus Metro- 

 phila of South America, was discovered by Dr. J. Gundlach about 

 three years ago. He has graciously left to me the task of describing 

 it, and I thought it only a small token of my gratitude towards a 

 life-long tutor and friend, to call it after him. 



Paris, Feb. p, i8go. 



Dear Sir: — Having had an opportunity of examining an orig- 

 inal type of Zeller's Pempelia petrella, Isis 1846, p. 771, and 1848, 

 p. 886; V. z.-b. Ges. 1872, p. 545 (99), I find it is the same species 

 described by Walker under the name of Trachonitis erectalis, so that 

 this latter name must give way to Zeller's. 



To the Catalogue of N. A. Species I add Myelois grossipunctella 

 Rag., a very interesting species submitted to me by Mr. C. V. Riley, 

 who informed me that the larva has been detected in California living 

 predaceously on the ' ' fluted scale, " or " cottony cushion-scale' ' 

 ( Icerya piirchasi), adding that it has probably been introduced from 

 Australia. I describeci the species from a specimen in Guenee's 

 collection which bore no indication of origin. 



Yours truly, 



E. Ragonot. 



