340 SCOPELODES; HYPHOR^IA; MICROLEON. By Dr. A. Seitz. 



like the European Heterogenea asella Schiff., liave the facies of Tortricidae and are very inconspicuous. From 

 the whole of the Palearctic Region nearly 50 forms are recorded. 



Many larvae of Limacodids urticate, some very strongly so. The Australian Doratifera vulnerans has 

 received its name from this offensive chf,racter. The cocoon is so spun by the larvae that the head-piece comes off 

 as an even lid when the moth emerges, which characteristic brings the Limacodids in close connection with the 

 preceding family. The moths fly by day in the sun or at night, the flight being wild, undulating and wliizzing. 



1. Genus: iScopelodes Westw. 



The 10 species hitherto recorded of this Indo-Chinese genus are perhaps for the greater part forms 

 of a few species only. They are recognised by the abnormally long palpi, which project like two truncate 

 tufts from the head fonvard, being slightly divergent. Thorax and forewing as well as basal area of the hind 

 wing covered with a dense pelt of hair-scales; the hind legs terminate likewise in truncate paws. The antennae 

 are bipectinate to the centre in (J, then simple. Mid tibia without spurs. On the forewing the recurrent cell- 

 vein almost reaches the wing-base; discocellular so deeply angulate that the apex of cell is divided into two 

 lobes; of the subcostals veins 7, 8, 9 stalked together; from the lower submedian vein to the hind margin 

 numerous thin veins. — The larvae are thick, plump, clumsy, on the back two rows of tubercles shaped 

 like spiked clubs. The moths are rarely met with at rest by day, but are sometimes beaten from the branch- 

 es hanging over the roads, from which they whir down to the ground, where they remain for a while. All 

 the species occur in India, one being recorded from North China. 



i-CTtosa. 0. venosa Walk. (= ursina But!., aurogrisea Moore, testacea Bull.) (30 d). This form has been recorded 



from Japan; it is otherwise Indian, being distributed throughout Anterior India and extending probably 

 to Kashmir, thus crossing the Palearctic boundary in Central and East Asia. The various forms have been 

 based on differences in the wing-colour, which varies exceedingly, even in one and the same locality. The dark- 

 est form, with the forewing almost black-brown, is venosa; the Indian testacea is paler, more red-brown; still 

 lighter, sometimes sandy-yellow or dust-grey, is the South Indian (Ceylonese) aurogrisea Moore. The Kashmir 



ursina. form is probably the dark brown ursina Bull. — Larva green, yellow beneath, on the back rows of setiferous 

 warts, segment 8 bears a red-white-blue transverse stripe, and 11 a black spot. The cocoon is ovate, brown, 

 with dark markings. The moths are much attracted by the lamp ; they were on many nights the only species 

 which came to the light after 10 o'clock, wildly circling round the lamp. They are very difficult to find by 

 day, as they rest in a peculiar position closely appressed to branches, resembling a rolled-up young leaf; 

 head and thorax are raised and the wings held close together posteriorly; the palpi are stretched forward 

 and resemble small leaf-stalks. 



conlracta. S. contracta Walk. (50 b). Like the preceding very variable in size, but usually considerably smaller, 



also more constantly grey-bro v\ai ; on the forewing cell and distally the interneural spaces darker. — • North 

 China, Japan (Hondo); allied forms also in India. 



2. Genus : H^'plioriiia Hbn. 



The only species of this genus has the prolonged palpi of Scopelodes, but they are different in structure. 

 While in the previous genus segment 2 is upturned in front of the face and 3 directed obliquely upwards, 

 provided with a tuft and longer than 2, in the present genus segment 2 is longer than 3, both have the 

 same direction, being horizontally porrect, and have no real apical pencil. In neuration Hyphorma is distinguished 

 by the forked cell-vein, and by the cell-apex not being bilobate, the discocellular being less deeply angulate. 

 — Tiie moths are not rare in India; W.A.LKER also gives North China as habitat. p,nd for that reason we 

 mention the species here; but the record is doubtful. 



mhiax. H. minax Walk. (50 b). Body and head with reddish golden browai hair. Wings light umber-brown 



with dark shadow from near apex to hind angle, and an oblique line from the costal end of the shadow to the 

 apex of cell. India. — We figure the species from the tvi^e in London, as North China was given as patria. 

 But I have not found the species there, and Leech does not mention it. Probably we have to do with a 

 mistake in labelling, as Walker has also recorded from "North China" other species which certamly come 

 from India, e. g. Dudusa nobilis Walk. a. o. 



3. Genus: Mierolooii Butl. 

 The only species of this genus resembles our Cochl. limacodes in colour and markings, but the body 



