—154— 



Notes on Diludia, G. &f R. 



By John B. Smith. 



The genus Diludia was created by Messrs. Grote and Robinson in 

 1865 with Sphinx brontes as type, and with it were associated y?or<'j/a« and 

 collaris — all West Indianor South American species (see Proc. Ent. Soc. 

 Phil. 1865, 163 and 188). In describing the genus they say that Sphinx 

 Jasminearum and .S". leucophceata would probably be referable to the same 

 genus when identified. 



The genus is said to have the "head large and salient ; prothoracic 

 parts well advanced before the insertion of the primaries." In the figure 

 oi D. brontes, pi. i, f. 5, these characters are well marked, and with the 

 genus as based on this species I have no present quarrel, though some of 

 the species referred to it come uncomfortably near to Proioparce or 

 Macrosila. 



Besides the characters of brontes noted by IMessrs. Grote and Robin- 

 son it may be stated that the eyes are not lashed, the tibiae unarmed, foie 

 tarsi heavily spinose, but not with heavier outer armature. I have seen 

 no specimens from the United States, nor do I believe the species properly 

 referred as part of our fauna. In 1868 IMessrs. Grote and Robinson 

 referred to the genus Diludia the ^^iQcxt^ Jasiuineanim and leucophceata, the 

 latter unknown to them, and in ]\Ir. Grote's subsequent list of Sphingi- 

 da; the species zxo.— jasminearum, brontes and leucophceata. 



Leucophceata I have seen from Mexico, and believe its presence in 

 Texas whence Clemens received it, was accidental. In habitus it some- 

 what resembles brontes, but the head is not so prominent. The eyes are 

 lashed, the fore tibia spinose, fore tarsi with a series of longer, stout outer 

 spines. In structure therefore it is most like Hyloicus, and indeed the 

 species is close to lugens, which it also resembles in type of maculation — 

 diifering however in the longer, more acute primaries. It is not congeneric 

 with brontes, but best referable to Sphittx and associated with lugens. 



Jasminearum differs from both the above species by the retracted 

 head and the prothorax not produced before the base of the primaries. 

 The legs are rather short and entirely unarmed ; the fore tarsi have only 

 the ordinary small spines. In habitus it certainly does not at all resemble 

 brontes, and comes much closer to Daremma from which it diff"ers how- 

 ever m the lack of tarsal armature. 



I would propose iox jasminearum the generic term Chlcenogramma 

 distinguishing it from Diludia and Daremma by the characters above men- 

 tioned. From Sphinx \\. difi'ers among other things in having unlashed eyes. 



Diludia not containing any American species must be dropped from 

 our lists. 



