ncumoc(jcin. 



998 AEGIALE; MEGATHYMUS. By Dr. M. Draudt. 



1. Geillis: Aegiale Fldr. Acentrocmme Scddr. 



From the following genus only separated by 3 insignificant, morphological differences: the so-called 

 ■pulvillus or ,, cushion" on tlie ventral side of the last tarsal joint is strongly developed, forming a globular con- 

 vexity. The 2nd palpal joint is long and uniformly narrow, the 3rd very short, conical, somewhat pointed; 

 the basal covering of the palps consists of large, triangular scales, being towards the apex entirely covered by 

 the long, rough hairing. On the c? forewing the upper median vein is at its base not bent down and ncaring 

 the lower. Only 1 species: 

 hcsperi(irif). A. hcsperiaris Wkr. (= kollari i^Wr., agavis Blasquirt) (193c) is a large, monstrous insect very 



much like a Castnia. Above light fox-coloured, postdiscally somewhat paler with 3 whitish subapical hyaline 

 spots, a black marginal band, postmedian subcostal spots and a dentate antemedian oblique band; hindwing 

 with a blackish-brown border, an indistinct nebulous band at the cell-end. Beneath the hindwing is grey, 

 with thick whitish hair and 2 or 3 indistinct blackish dentate lines; forewing lighter yellow than above. Mexico. 

 The larva lives in the stalk of Agaves and is eaten by the Indians. 



2. Genus: Meg'atliyiiiiis Scddr. 



The genus contains somewhat smaller, not so monstrous species. The wings in several species are 

 covered with hair partly standing vertically on the surface of the wings. Tiie pulvillus is not developed, only 

 forming a short, conical projection between the terminal claws. The 2nd palpal joint is short and obtuse, 

 the terminal joint not conical, obtusely rounded off; the scaling of the palpi is only intermixed with few 

 hairs. The upper median vein is in the (^^ very much bent downward at the base and nearing the lower. The 

 ^^ fly wildly and timidly about in the hot sunshine on .sandy, hot jjlaces. 



M. neumoegeni Edjc. (= aryxna (S'^fw?;..) (193 b) above entirely resembles co/ag'«J, but on the forewing 

 it exhibits yet a spot above the middle of the submedian, and instead of the marginal band a more proximally 

 removed antemarginal band. Beneath the same, though greyer. Arizona, South California to Mexico. — f. 

 sfcphcns'i. Stephens! Skinner is above greyer in the colour, the yellow spots are distinct, especially the cellular .spot. 

 California. 

 ary.rnii. M. aryxna Di/ar is extremely similar to the preceding and often also only differs by variable characters, 



so that only a precise exainination of the genitals affords a guarantee : the distal valval end is shorter and obtuser 

 than in neumoegeni, the processus basalis at the beginning much broader, the distal spining of the penis quite 

 different, consisting only of 3 or 4 minute teeth at the distal edge, in neumoegeni on each side with a row of 

 5 or 6 teeth, aryxna is generally much larger, the spots are mostly larger, flown together to a band, the 

 2nd spot from the the proximal angle is proximally wedge-shaped; the yellow ba.sal hairing is much less exten- 

 sive; the under surface of the hindwings is darker, less abundantly strewn with white. From South Arizona. 



polbvji. M. polingi Skinner looks quite different, more like A. hesperiaris (193 c) and is above bright orange- 



brown with a black distal margin being broader at the apex, a large black subapical spot and a large, irregular 

 discal spot. Hindwing bordered with black, before it with a broad, orange-brown band not quite reaching 

 to the costal margin nor to the proximal margin. Basal areas of both wings orange-brown. Beneath the yellow 

 colour is subapically whitish. The hindwing is grey with an irregular whitish band parallel to the costal and 

 distal margins; in the middle of the wing 2 whitish .spots, the lower being much larger. Expanse of wings: 

 44 mm. Arizona. 



yuccae. M. yuccae Bsd. cfc Lee. (193 c, d) is a larger species; above brown, basally more intensely haired 



olive, with a yellow cellular spot and a band of 3 spots being removed far towards the margin and analwards; 

 3 or 4 subapical and farther di.stally below them 2 more whitish hyaline spots. In the 9 the postdiscal band 

 is much broader and united with the cellular spot, with another submedian spot, and the hindwing shows 

 a yellow postdiscal band. Fringes of forewings grey, of hindwings yellow, speckled darker. Beneath more 

 grey, on the forewing apically and the whole hindwing strewn lighter, the hindwing \\ ith a large, light costal- 

 marginal and anal-angular spot. South Carolina, Georgia. Florida. — The larva is bone-colourcd with a lighter 

 lateral and greenish dorsal stripe; it lives in Yucca and changes in an inwardly white-spun cocoon into a white 

 columdeii- pupa. — f. coloradensis Streck. (= navajo Skinn.) is a scarcely different, smaller, less dark form from Texas, 

 *■'■'• Colorado, Arizona. 



cofwjiii. M. cofaqui Streck. (193 b) is easily distinguished from yuccae by a mucli broader, j'cllow discal band 



cohering with the costal spot, by a short, squat shape of the wings, and by 4 white spots on the hindwing 

 beneath which is strewn with grey, one at the anal angle, 2 at the costal margin and one in the cell. Hitherto 

 only one $ seems to be known. Georgia; Florida. 

 vmus. M. ursus Poling seems hitherto only to be known in 2 specimens. Above brown with 3 yellowish- 



white subcostal spots and a band of 5 large orange spots from here to the proximal margin and a similar .spot 



