the Genus tmmd. 1*^1 



thickened Math dense scales, in ^ often laterally excurved, sometimes 

 long-haired above, terminal joint seldom more than half second, 

 jjointed or obtuse, in ^ sometimes shorter or minute or aborted. 

 Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax in $ sometimes with lateral 

 hairpencils from beneath fore-wings. Abdomen in $ sometimes 

 with latei'al tufts or hairpencils. Middle and posterior tibiae with 

 a2:)pressed scales above, sometimes in ^ with dense brushes of hairs 

 beneath. Fore-wings elongate, more or less dilated ; \h furcate, 2 

 from near angle, 7 and 8 separate or stalked, 7 to termen, 8 usually 

 to termen, sometimes to apex or costa, rarely absent (coincident with 

 7), 9-11 tolerably equidistant, no secondary cell. Hind- wings 1-1 j, 

 trapezoidal-ovate, cilia \-\ ; 2-5 remote and tolerably parallel, 6 and 

 7 stalked or seldom 6 absent (coincident), 8 connected with cell in 

 middle ; in ^ sometimes with subdorsal groove or prominent tornal 

 lobe. 



Notwithstanding the variability of accessory characters, 

 the constant structure of the palpi and neuration is so 

 marked and distinct that no genus is easier of recog-nition. 

 The nearest allied genera (apart from Palamernis, described 

 hereafter) are Simaethis on the one hand, and Fhycodes and 

 Brachodcs (Atychia) on the other. In distribution Iinma 

 is essentially tropical, probably Indo-Malayan in origin, 

 since the large majority of species are natives of that 

 region, but with indigenous representatives in Africa, 

 Australia, and Central America. 



In classing together as congeneric those forms which 

 have veins 7 and 8 of the fore-wings separate, and those 

 which have them stalked, I have relied upon the analogy 

 of other genera of the Plutellidm ; in many of the principal 

 genera of this family {Ghjphipteryx, Hilarographa, PraySy 

 Argyrcsthia, Pyrozela, Mieza, Ladura, etc.) these veins are 

 found both separate and stalked, whilst the species show 

 no other important structural or superficial distinction ; 

 the maintenance of pairs of allied genera in all these cases 

 would in my opinion be artificial and unscientific. I should 

 lay it down as a principle that in the PlutdlidiB the stalking 

 or separation of these particular veins is in.sufficient for 

 the discrimination of genera unless supported by other 

 characters. It is interesting to compare this state of 

 things in the more primitive Phddlidie with that found 

 in the more specialized families of Gdcdiiadss and 

 (Eco'phoridx, where these two veins are invariably stalked 

 or coincident, without exception. 



TKANS. ENT. SOG. LOND, 1906.— PART II. (SEPT.) 12 



