HETKKUGYNIS. By Dr. A. .Seitz. 340 



21, Family: Heterogynidae. 



We interpolate here a group of moths, or rather a single species, which does not well fit into any other 

 family. It is a peculiarly specialised in.sect which perhaps may best be considered a modification of the 

 Zygaenid-type. Kirby places the genus Heterogynis in between the Orgyia-WVe Lymantriids and the Psycliids, 

 while Statjdinger and Rebel bring it after the Arctiids, with which it has nothmg to do, and near the Zy- 

 gaenids, which is more correct. We place it in front of the Psycliids, because we are of opinion (cf. this 

 v^olume p. 351) that the Psycliids themselves are secondarily modified derivations from other families. 



The ^1^ of .ffetefogrynis a small and unicolorous day-flying moths with thin scaling; the $$ are mag- 

 got-like, not being very different from the caterpillar. The patria is South- West Europe and the opposite 

 North-West Africa. The genus extends eastward to Istria and the Herzegovina, northward to Switzerland 

 and South- West Germany. It differs from all the Z ygaenidae in the complete reduction of the proboscis and 

 palpi, which cannot be used for feeding ; from the genus Zygaena, moreover, it is distinguished by the antenna 

 being long -pectinate. In facies there is some similarity with the Zygaenid genus Procris (= Ino, Atychia), 

 from which Heterogynis is probably derived. The venation is not constant and offers no evidence for the syste- 

 matic position of Heterogynis. 



Genus: Heterogynis Ramh. 



The (j*-sex small, grey, semitransparent moths similar in facies to a Zygaena, the wings more hairy 

 than scaled, the body slender, the antenna of (^ plumose-pectinate, the head small, without proboscis and al- 

 most obsolete palpi; the maggot-like $ with entirely atrophied mouth-parts, wings and abdominal legs, and 

 with mere vestiges of the thoracical legs as short obtuse stumps. — The larva strongly recalls those of 

 Somabrachys, but has only 4 pairs of abdominal legs besides the anal pair; short, plump, with swellings, 

 concealed head, and small warts bearmg small white bristles. They live exposed on various plants, especially 

 Papilionaceae such as Genista, Sarothamnus and Golutea and pupate in a dense but soft cocoon. The 

 (^(^ fly in the sunshine on open places, which are very restricted and dispersed and where also the caterpillars 

 are to be fovmd. The $$, like those of many Orgyia (e. g. 0. dubia), do not leave the cocoons, in wliich they 

 also deposit the eggs. It is here not the place to decide whether there are more than one distinct species. 

 According to the very intrinsic researches of Dr. Chapman, who has selected this group for special study, the 

 forms are very variable according to locality, which is observed either in the moths, or more particularly in the 

 caterijillar and in bionomic characteristics. They have but one brood, and, as far as the observations go, 

 show great resistance to cyanide of potassium, to wliich fact Herr R. Pungeler drew my attention, remark- 

 ing that Heterogynis agrees therein with the Zygaenidae. 



H. paradoxa Hbn. nee Ramh. (=penella ^6w., pennella Dup., hispana Ramh., erotica GrasL, padella paradoxa. 

 Chenu) (50 f). ,^ in facies nearly like a Procris; wings semitransparent, dull russet grey, with long frmges, 

 the costal margin somewhat darker. $ maggot-like, stout and glossy, very voluminous as compared with 

 the slender (J, with the thoracical legs reduced to stumps. The flight of the ,^ somewhat recalls Phryganids. 

 The species has several times been described under different names, and a large number of forms have been 

 named which often differ hardly in anything else but locality and time of appearance. The most widely 

 distributed form is paradoxa Hbn., occurring in Southern France, Southern Germany (Vosges) and Switzer- 

 land to Northern Italy and Austria, Mjeing also found in Mauretania. — The liardlj^ different form from 

 Spain Chapman distinguishes as canalensis ; it is somewhat larger than true paradoxa, the wings being more canalcnsis. 

 as in ramburi Kirby and the fringes shorter; moreover, the two wings are not exactly alike in colour, the hmd- 

 wing being darker than the forewing. — The form from Southern Spain, affinis Ramh. (= affmiella Bruand) affinis. 

 is scarcely distinguishable from it. — ucedinis Chapm., from the neighbourhood of Ucedo, in Spain, differs ucedinis. 

 from the preceding form, apart from locality, particularly in the cocoon, which is pale, whitish, and about as 

 large as in ramburi, i. e. much larger than in true paradoxa.. — ■ ramburi Kirby (= paradoxa Ramh. nee Hbn.) ramburi. 

 (50 f) is considerably larger than true paradoxa, and more brown-grey instead of black-grey, and the maggot- 

 like $ is much thicker and heavier than the $ of true paradoxa. Iberian Peninsula. ■ — ■ piedrasitae Chapm., piedrasitae. 

 from the neighbourhood of Piedrasita in Spain, is hardly different as moth from the preceding form, but the 



