336 SOMABRACHYS. By Dr. A. Seitz. 



fered such bad effects, Powell reports being always subject to them). In June they reach their full size, after 

 which they weave an egg-shaped cocoon, in which they lie dormant for weeks, like the Limacodidae, in a shrivelled 

 and almost immovable condition; they enter the pupal state about 4 weeks before the emergence of the imago, 

 which takes place in fall. The pupa has the extremities enclosed within separate sheaths, as in the Limacodidae 

 (Pupa libera), and the skin is very delicate, for which reason they invariably che if taken out of the cocoon. The 

 ,^(J flie in stubble-fields, chasing after the wingless $$ which in general resemble those of Orgyia antiqua, but 

 are more agile and able to run rather fast. The imago emerges mostly towards evening, and as the oo commence 

 flying very soon afterwards it is necessary to kill them as quickly as possible if one wishes to preserve the very 

 delicate wings. The oo come to the lamp; the different species look very much alike and can often only be told 

 apart by rearing the larva ; nearly all are a uniform mouse-grey or earthy-brown and in certain localities very com- 

 mon. The larva is during day-time concealed on the underside of the blossoms of Compositae or Umbelliferae. 

 Of tiie caterpillars which are gathered in a groM^a-up state, a high percentage is infested by Tachmae. All 

 the hitherto known species are found exclusively in North Africa. There are about 20 forms known, all more 

 or less looking alike. Presumably not all of these represent distinct species, but in a number of cases the 

 knowledge of the earlier stages has put their specific difference beyond doubt. 



acgrota. S. aegfota King (50 d), distinguished from the allied species by the colouring being more grey than 



earthy brown. Larva unknown. — Described from the neighbourhood of Alexandria in Egypt. Type in Berlin. 



khigi. S. klugi Oherth. (50 d), in colour, size and shape of wings resembling aegrota Klug from Egj-pt, from 



which, according to Oberthur's figure it differs in its more slender and .slim facies. The 5 has the hair not 

 yellowish brown as the other species of Somabrachys, but silvery grey. — From Western Algeria. 



codeti. S. codeti Aiist. (50d), almost as robust as the preceding species, biit of smaller size and of a taint brown- 



aJbinervis. ish yellow tinge. From Sebdou, Prov. of Oran, Algeria. - — ab. albinervis Oherth (50 d) differs from the mono- 

 tonously coloured codeti, in which the veins stand out very dark, principally in being faintly suffused with grey, 

 which leaves the veins quite pale, especially the subcostals and radials in the forewing of the q ; likewise from 

 nlrinervis. Sebdou. • — Another form having the veins black and very distinct (= atrinervis Oberth.), from Geryville, Prov. 

 of Oran, may also be mentioned here. • — ■ Larva pale greenish-yellow, adorned on the back by a broad, dark 

 purplish brown, sometimes violet-grey band which is divided by the paler dorsal line and edged with yellow. 

 Every segment is on the side marked by a large, chocolate-coloured spot surrounding the spiracles, which are 

 delicately ringed with yellow. Abdomen ventrally pale yellow. At the end of May it is full-grown, being found 

 on Helianthemum, Ephedra, Erodium, Bupleurum and other plants, often burrowing into the thalamus of the 

 blossoms. Pupa dirty yellow, dorsally with two fine grey lines. The imago belongs to the larger species of the 

 genus, and is by some authors united with aegrota, which, however, differs in having the ground-colour more grey. 



arcanaria. S. arcanaria Mill. In size like codeti which it also closely resembles in other respects. Body very 



robust, colouring dull grey-fuscous, with veins more or less dark. Eastern Algeria, Bone and the adjacent parts 



capsiiana. of Tunisia. — • capsitana Chret. (50 d), from Southern Tunisia, our figure representing the cotj^ae from 

 Gafsa contained in the Puengeler collection, appears closely allied to the preceding form, from which it may 

 be distinguished by the thinner scaling, which renders the veins more prominent. 



masiioa. S. ttiassiva Oberth. Verj^ much like the preceding species, but remarkable for the much more graceful 



build of the q. — From Tunisia. 



infiiscata. S, infuscata Klxg, described from Egypt, by Oberthur declared identical with a rather more slender 



marovcana. form from Morocco which he names maroccana and characterizes as being more bro^^^l and more distinctly 

 veined than the other forms of Somabrachys. Whether these two forms should be united can only be decided 

 after we have more abundant material at our disposal. 



adherbal. S. adherbal Oberth. is the smallest and most slender form of the entire genus so far known, having 



the wings very thmly scaled, translucent and of pale colour, the antennae deeper yellow. Larva with a dark 

 grey dorsal band, which has a pale yellow outline and bears a number of jjale yellow tubercles ; the pale yellow 

 lateral band docs not extend above the upper part of the spiracles which are enclosed by deep 3'ellow rings. 

 Cocoon dark brownish-graj', very similar to that of S. manastabal; pupa smaller, but coloured like those of 

 the allied species. Imago emerges in August and September. — Geryville. 



inanas'.abnL S. matiastabal Oberth. Resembling the preceding species in shape and size, but differing according to 



OBERTHiJR's figure in the deeper colouring and denser scaling; with certahity probably only to be distinguished 

 in the larval stage, which has the dorsal tubercles less prominent and the dorsal stripe more greenish gray, 

 and lacks the yellow marginal lines, which lattar feature is only found in this species; the larger tubercles bril- 

 lant orange. — Found in the South of the Algerian Province of Oran. 



