PALPIFER; HEPIALISCUS; GORGOPIS; PHASSUS. By R. Pfitzneb. 437 



2. Genus: Palpifer Hamps. 



As already indicated by the name, distinguished by the relatively strongly developed palpi. Antennae 

 shorter than the very hairy thorax. Wings narrower, the hind angle of the forewing more produced, not so 

 obhquely and evenly rounded as in Hepialns. A small North Indian genus, one species of which reaches the Pale- 

 arctic Region. 



P. sexnotatus Moore {= murinus Moore, taprobanus Moore) (54 e). Forewing black, lighter in the hind- sexnotatus. 

 marginal half; six yellowish dots. Hindwing black with yellow basal area, fringes yellow in the median portion 

 of the outer margin. Found in Kashmir and near Darjiling. Several other species inhabit Assam (Khasia Hills), 

 among them the smallest known Hepialid (P. minutus). — We give the name ronin form. nov. (53 h) to a Jap- ronin. 

 anese form A\hich is at once distinguished from sexnotatus by the hindwing being uniformly brown, not orange- 

 yellow (ronin = restless person). 



3. Genus: Hepialiseiis Hamps. 



Palpi absent. Antennae short, filiform. Forewing with veins 1 a and 1 c short and slender; a cross- 

 vein between 1 b and 1 c and the median vein; both wmgs with veins 8, 9 and 10 stalked, and two small 

 veins in the cell, which are curved downwards, touching the centre of the median vein. Legs short, hairy, 

 tibiae without spurs. Distinguished from Hepialus by vein 8 in the latter genus originating in both wings 

 from the cell. Larvae in roots of grass, etc. 



H. nepalensis Walk. (= mdica Walk., pauperatus Walk., marcidus Walk.) (54 d). Head, thorax and ab- nepalensis. 

 domen greyish or reddish brown. Forewing greyish or ochreous brown, with four indistinct series of small dark 

 specks or small ring-spots on indistinct pale oblique bands; a submargmal series of specks or ring-spots on pale 

 spots. Hindwing pale fuscous. In the form indicus (= marcidus) black blotches are developed in, beyond and 

 below the cell of the forewing. Expanse (J 44, $ 56 mm. — Simla; Kulu; Nepal; Sikkim (Hampsok)- 



H. algeriensis Joann. (53 h). Expanse 26 mm. Forewing greyish brown, with 9 black and rather irre- algeriensis. 

 gular transverse lines, irregularly bordered with white scales from the costal to the hind margin (lines 2 to 7) 

 and outer margin (lines 8 and 9), especially at the end of lines 2, 3 and 4 at the costa and line 6 at the 

 hind margin. Outer margin with six white dots between the afore-mentioned lines and dots bordered by a 

 few yellow scales. Hindwing greyish brown with white marginal dots between the veins. Head reddish, thorax 

 and abdomen above greyish brown, below yellowish. Antennae strongly ribbed. — St. Charles near Philippe- 

 ville, Algeria (according to de Joaotstis). Probably distributed over the greater part of North Africa. As Abbe 

 DE JOANNIS once told me, the species is variable. He mentions reddish and yellowish specimens. On Plate 52 h 

 one of these forms is figured in which there is some ivory colour along the costal margin of the forewing and 

 transversely over the abdomen; this is ab. bicolor ab. nov., from the mountainous interior of Tunisia. Similar bicolor. 

 is ab. joannisi Luc. }oa7inis>. 



4. Genus: Cirorgopis Hbn. 



Antennae longer than the thorax; strongly pectinate in the <J, by which Gorgopis is at once distinguish- 

 ed from all other Palearctic Hepialid genera. Forewing evenly rounded at the hmd angle, both wings with 

 broad fringes. Body shaggy. The species of Gorgopis are usually insignificant, and inhabit especially South 

 and East Africa. Only one species occurs on Palearctic territory. 



G. niphonica Butt. "Primaries above olive-brown, shot with rose-colour towards the outer margin; niphonica. 

 the subbasal area darkest, marked with two unequal white dots placed obliquely; a spot closing the cell, an 

 irregular discal series doubled above the median vein and a marginal series deep olivaceous; secondaries 

 greyish brown, shot with rose-colour; thorax olivaceous; abdomen greyish brown; under surface bronzy 

 olivaceous, tinted with rose-colour. Expanse of wings 34 mm." — Japan. 



5. Genus: Pliassiis Walk. 



An exceedingly well characterized genus, distinguishable at the first glance from all other Hepialid 

 genera. Antennae very short and slender, palpi scarcely visible, tongue absent. Abdomen very long. Wings 

 broad, forewing of cj produced in sickle-shape into a sharp point, with golden or silver stigmata. Of medium 

 size or larger, exotic species up to gigantic size. The facies of Phassus, marbled with brow^l and grey in many 

 shades, recalls more than that of other Hepialids the descent of the family from the Phryganids. Its numerous 

 species inhabit tropical America and Asia, and extend into the Palearctic Region. The larva live in tree-trunks, 

 the spines of the pupa are strongest in the region of the abdominal legs. 



