MEGATHYMINAE. By Dr. .M. Ukaldt. y<J7 



P. igniculus r)ic. is iloscly allied lo the preceding species from which it differs by the reduction of i;iii'n hIks. 

 tile white basal area on the hiiidw iiiu; beneath, consisting only of a white sjiut above the costal vein and some 

 wliite scales at the lower edge of the cell. From Pern (Pozuzo). 



P. caninus Drc is likewise closely allied to ora-su-s (165 c), but coloured lighter, with a white border '(niiinis. 

 of the hindwing before the white fringes. Beneath the costal margin is white from the base to behind the middle 

 of the cell. Head, palpi and ai)ex of abdomen red. like the anteiior hijis and pectoial hair-tufts. Colombia 

 (Rio Meta). 



P. tenebricosa He/r. (](i.")c) likewise greatly resenil)les the jireceding; above coloured the same as lint-hricom. 

 the preceding. Beneath of a more yellow ish tint. A\ith a yellowish basal aiea of the hindwing as far as the lell- 

 end, gradually passing over into the bronze-gieen tint, being not so distinctly defined as in orasiis (105 c). Shoul- 

 ders red-brown. Pert). 



P. lugubris Drc. Above uni-colouied jet-black with white fringes which, towards the apex on both liuiiihrh. 

 wings and at the anal angle of the hindwing, are smoked grey. Beneath both wings are dark green, with black 

 veins, the proximal margins on both wings Ijlackish brown. Head, palpi and legs are black, jiosterior tibiae 

 and sides of the chest with red-brown hair-tufts, abdominal end likewise red-brown. Bolivia (La Paz). 



P. subvirescens Schs. Above l)luisli-blaek, fringes of the forewing ajJU'ally brown, analwards whitish, suhrirc.s- 

 fringes of tlu' hindwing yellow. Beneath olive-green, with black veins, on the forewing the lower half of the "'"''• 



cell and the proximal margin as far as the upper median vein are bluish-black, on the hindwing the inner- 

 marginal part. Palpi red except the black terminal joint: tlie last 3 abdominal rings and the anus are red. 

 Expanse of wings: 43 mm. Castro (Parana). 



P. quispica Plofz {= reedii Weeks) (165 c) differs from the preceding l)y the ground-colour above 'y»'-/"'™- 

 being more brownish-black, and the fringes orange-red or yellow. Beneath as socnites (165 b,c). Pein and 

 Bolivia. 



P. caniposa Plotz (166 1>. c) is above greenish steel-blue with whitish fringes and red anus. The ^ii)»i>o-w. 

 under surface is of a bright green, the costal margin of the forewing yellow, the proximal part black; the middle 

 of the hindwing is crossed by a bioad black band, the inner-marginal part is likeAvise bread black, towards 

 the base with a green spot in it. Brazil. 



P. maraviiha Foetterle (165 b as cumposa) very nnich resembles ravipom, but easily disceinil)le by inararUha. 

 red shoulder-covers and beneath by the absence of the yellow costal stripe of the forewing; the coloin' of the 

 hindwing is more gi:)lden \ellow. and in the steel-blue inner-marginal pait there are 2 oljlong spots of the groiuid- 

 eoloar. South Brazil. 



P. cleanthes L:ifr. (165 d as deanthus). Above steel-black with 2 white discal spots, and on the ''"'""'cs- 

 hindwing white fringes being red at the anal angle. — f . apicalis H .-Srhijjf. is only a form of it with very small aiticalia. 

 spots. Brazil. — f. romula Drc. (165 d) inobably also belongs hereto and has larger, confluent, white rotmda. 

 discal spots. Colombia. 



P. telmela Hew. (192 e) has a much more extensive white discal band, since beside the spots of I'limid. 

 the preceding there are yet a quadrangular cellular spot and a snbmedian spot ; in addition often yet a distally 

 remote 5th .spot and a subapical one; these forms belong to f, ochrope PJotz. Biazil (Paia). oclirope. 



P. xanthothrix Mab. Sooty black w ith a violet reflection, foiewing at the base lighter. Fringes yellow, ■miiiholliri.r. 

 at the apex of the forewing and anal angle of the hindwing blackish. Under suiface as in the following ngnricon. 

 Shoulders anteriorly bordered with red, bases of palpi spotted red; the two last abdominal rings are n^argincd 

 with red. abdomen laterally s2Jotted red. Expanse of wings: 50 mm. Pern (Hnnyabamba). 



P. agaricon Drc. (161 a) is above dark jJurple-brown, body and basal third on both wings tan-coloured. "!/"'■ 

 Beneath golden lustrous olive-green, with black veins, in the proximal ])ait <if the forewing and at the pioxi- 

 mal margin of the hindwing brownish-black. Colombia. 



5. Subfamily: Megathyminae Mab. 



^Ve ajipend here this group of very nuich deviating species to the Hespeiids, in order not to conflict 

 with the opinions expressed in the works we have hitherto followed in general (especially Mabille's Catalogue 

 of the Hesperids and Wytsmah's Geneia Inseetoium). which might jnejudice the utility of both works. We 

 remark, however, that the Megaflii/iiiinne have, especially of late, been often quite coirectl^y regarded as a separate 

 family. A work as the ,,Maerolepidoptera of the Earth", serving essentially a practical use has its main point 

 more distinctly there where the single grou|)s are to l)e inserted than in the rank that may be attiibuted 

 to the single groups. We therefore do not try to correct Mabille. 



The head of the MegtUhyininae is nnich smaller than otherwise in the Hes})i'rids. Antennae thick and 

 fixed with a stout clida and a vei y short ])oint on it. Body long and stout. Middle and posterior tibiae with 

 a pair of very short terminal spurs. \'eins as in the last genera: tlu' middle radial vein of the forewing 

 at the base very much bent downward and nearing the lower. Pe(uli;ir, liaiiy insects externally reminding 

 us of the ('(hstnin. The larvae, as far as they are known, live in the inteiioi' of j)lants. 



iruoii. 



