Publ. 14. II. 1910. PEXINOLA; POECILONOLA. By Dr. A. Seitz. 49 



sharply elbowed on the central patch of scales, and then runs as a deep black line almost directly to the 

 inner margin. The outer transverse hne curves sharply towards the margin already on the subcostal, 

 encircles the apex of the cell in a broad double curve, and is accompanied on ist inner side by a pale 

 parallel line. There are a few brownish shadowy spots distally at the costa. In Southern France and in 

 Spain. — Larva dull brownish yellow, with black head, small hairy yellow dorsal and dark lateral warts, 

 a dark dorsal line and a red lateral one. Pronotum black, with pale divisional line. On thyme. 



('). Genus: Pexiiiola Hamps. 



In 1900 IIampsox erected this genus for a $ found at Yatung in Tibet, and placed it at the 

 end of the Nolinae. This seems scarcely the correct place for the insect — which is, however, unknown 

 to me — , if IIampsox is right in excluding Sarrothripa, to which Pexmola seems to me to be nearly 

 related, from the Arctiids and placing that genus among the Noctuids. As I have not had an opportunity 

 of examining the specimen, I here verbally quote Hampson's diagnosis: 



Proboscis fully developed; palpi porrect, extending quite three times the length of head and 

 strongly curved downwards, the '2nd joint fringed with hair above and with tuft at extremity' Ijelow, 

 the 3rd well developed; antennae of $ minutely ciliated; legs long and slender, the spurs long. 

 Forewing elongate, narrow, the apex produced and acute; veins 2 and 3 curved, the former from 

 close to angle of cell, the latter from angle; 4 from angle; 5 from above angle; 6 and 7 separate 

 from below angle of cell; 8, 9 shortly stalked; 10, 11 from cell free. Hindwing with vein 2 from 

 middle of cell; 3, 5, from angle; 4 absent; G, 7 coincident; 8 from middle of cell; the median 

 nervure and vein 1 strongly pectinated above. 



P. longirostris Hamps. 9- Head, thorax and abdomen grey-white, strongly mixed with black, lomjirostris. 

 Forewing grey, suffused with olive-brown and strongly irrorated with black; an antemedial ridge of 

 blackish scales tipped with white from subcostal nervure to vein 1 ; tufts of similar scales below the cell at 

 origin of vein 2 and at upper angle, the latter with indistinct blackish line from it, bent outwards above 

 inner margin; a diffused dark waved subterminal line. — 32 mm. — 1 $. Yatung. 



7. Genus: Poecilonola Hamps. 



Hampson places into this genus 3 forms which, besides a shght difference in venation, are only 

 distinguished from most other Nolinae by the somewhat more upturned palpi. The species are among 

 the largest of the whole subfamily, and are rendered rather conspicuous by the varied and contrasting 

 colours. One species inhabits Ceylon, another the Indian Himalayas. A few years ago an additional form 

 has been described from the Palearctic Himalayas. 



P. chionobasis Hamps. (J: palpi and forehead black; vertex and thorax pure white; antennae dark chionohasis. 

 brown excepting the tip, and a spot on the metathorax of the same colour; breast, legs and abdomen of a 

 brown tint, tarsi ringed with white. Forewing pure white; at the middle of the costa a large triangular 

 spot which bears dispersed silvery scales, and whose apex reaches to the median vein, its outer margin 

 being strongly- indented; marginal area black-brown, its inner edge wavy, and elbowed towards the cell at 

 vein 3; an irregular row' of black markings before the margin. Hindwing with white basal half and brown 

 outer half. 14 mm. Described by ITami'Son from a single <^ from tlie Kangia- Valley (Kashmir). 



2. Group: LLthosiinae. 



This group consists of about 250 genera with a little more than a 1000 known species; and we 

 must suppose that the greater number of forms of many genera have not yet been discovered. Many 

 genera resemble Microlepidoptera in appearance and as the Microlepidoptera are notoriously much neg- 

 lected by collectors, it is certain that many Lithosiinae have been overlooked. Certain species, moreover, 

 avoid the hght, remaining hidden in bushes or in crevices of bark, where they are well concealed, and 

 seldom or never fly in day-time. As has already been mentioned in the introduction to the family, most 

 lepidopterologists recognise in the Lithosiinae a very old group, an ancestral form, from which many of 

 our modern chief groups have arisen by development in different directions. There is an unmistakable 

 affinity to the Noctuids; on the other hand, an almost uninterrupted line of transitional forms leads to the 

 brightly coloured diurnal tiger-moths, which inhabit the temporate regions, and to the more tropical 

 Agaristidae, which occur especially in warmer countries. Undoubtedly the Lithosiinae are closely allied to 

 the Nolinae, but the larvae have 16 legs, i. c the first pair of abdominal legs is not aborted. On the 

 other hand, in the arrangement of the hairy warts the larva resembles the Syntomids, and the moth 



II 7 



