LEPIDOPTERA.— ARCTIIDE. 389 
fact, the most imperfect of all Lepidopterous insects; and even less 
favoured than their larvae, which they considerably resemble. I 
possess some very singular cases, formed by exotic species of these 
genera. The male larva of Psyche, previously to assuming the pupa 
state, fastens its case by the mouth to the surface of leaves and 
stems of plants; the larva then turns, so that its head is pointed 
towards the opposite aperture, out of which the pupa half pushes 
itself before becoming an imago : the females, on the other hand, never 
leave their cases; and from some observations made by Ochsenhei- 
mer and Ingpen (Steph. Illustr. Haust. 2. p.81.), it would ap- 
pear that these females produce fertile eggs without fecundation. 
The relation of these insects with the Aigeriz seems confirmed by 
the Sphinx ephemerzeformis, an insect which Mr. Stephens has formed 
into the genus Thyridopteryx, next to Psyche. (7rans. Entomol. 
Soc. vol. i. p. 76.) MM. Rambur has described another genus, under 
the name of Heterogynis, which seems intermediate between Psyche 
and Penthophera, agreeing with the former in the general appearance 
of the male, and the apterous inert female; but having a naked 
larva, which makes a cocoon somewhat like that of Anthrocera. 
(Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1836, pl. 17., and Fauna Andalus. vol. ii. 
pl. 14.) 
Closely allied to these insects, and apparently also to the Orgyize 
(judging from Mr. Curtis’s dissections), is the genus Penthophera, 
the larvee of which are described by him as tuberculated, each tu- 
bercle producing a bundle of hairs. The female of P. Morio, however, 
(Ernst. Pap. @Eur. t.iv. pl. 134. f.179. a-d), differs only from 
the male in its more robust abdomen, simple antennz, and small 
wings. The females of P. detrita and rubea have the wings, however, 
as large in proportion to the size of the insects as those of the males. 
I have seen in the collection of M. Robyns, at Brussels, a most re- 
markable Javanese insect, apparently belonging to this family, in 
which the hind wings are extremely elongated and linear, giving the 
insect the appearance of a Nemopteryx. M. Wesmael has described 
it under the name of Himantopterus fuscinervis ( Bull. Acad. Roy. 
Bruzelles, 1836.). 
The transformations of many species of this family are illustrated 
in the works of Réaumur, De Geer, Rosel, &c. . 

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