INSECT A TRANSVAALIENSIA. 89 



2. Desmeocraera vernalis. (Tab. IV., fig. 1.) 



Desmeocrara vernalis, Distant, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) vol. xs. p. 205 (1897). 

 Hab. — Transvaal; Barberton {Kendall), Lydenburg District (Pret. Mus.). 



3. Desmeocraera basalis. (Tab. IV., fig. 14.) 



Desmeocnem basalis. Distant, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) vol. iv. p. 361 (1899). 

 Hab. — Transvaal ; Lydenburg District (Colls. Dist. and Pret. Mus.). 

 Both sexes are very similar in markings. 



Genus PHALERA. 



Phalera, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Scbmett. p. 147 (1822 ?) ; Hamps. Fauna Brit. India, Moths, vol. i. 

 p. 133 (1892). 



A somewhat large genus widely distributed. It is found throughout the Palaearctic 

 region, as far as China and Japan ; not uncommon in India and Burma, and now recorded 

 from the Transvaal. 



4. Phalera lydenburgi. (Tab. IV., fig. 12 ? .) 



Phalera bjdenbunji. Distant, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) vol. iii. p. 463 (1899). 

 Hab. — Transvaal; Lydenburg District (Colls. Dist. and Pret. Mus.). 



Genus ANAPHE. 

 Anaphe, Walker, Cat. Lepid.^ Heteroc. Brit. Mus. iv. p. 856 (1855); Walsingh. Trans. Linn. See. Lond. (2) 



ii. p. 421 (1885). 

 Arctiomorpha, Herr.-Schaff. Aussereurop. Schmett. i. p. 11 (1855). 

 Henosh, Wallengr. Kongl. Vet.-Ak. Handl. (2) Bd. v. No. 4, p. 51 (1865). 



A genus confined to tropical and subtropical Africa. 



For a knowledge of this interesting genus and its peculiar larval arrangements we are 

 indebted to the late Col. J. H. Bowker and Lord Walsingham. On July 4th, 1883, 

 Col. Bowker forwarded a small box containing a nest of the "Congregating Moth" {Anaphe 

 panda, Boisd.*) from Natal. He wrote : — " The larvae are most interesting, often denuding a 

 tree of its foliage ; they move in a body, sometimes ten or even twenty yards long, in search 

 of ' pastures new,' and when the time comes, form into a cluster, and form the nest covered 

 with a brown silk. . , . The natives use the silk for medical purposes, somewhat as we 

 use oiled silk." The box reached England and Lord Walsingham at the beginning of August, 

 and the larvae were alive and apparently healthy. Many of them remained in the so-called 

 nest, but bodies of from twenty to forty constantly came out and moved about, always keeping 

 close to it. They moved in a closely packed mass, following a slightly curved line, much in 

 the same position as that in which the small cocoons were ultimately seen to be arranged in 

 the interior of the large one. On the 9th of August the nest was sent to the Insectarium of 



* A species not yet recorded from tbe Transvaal, but almost certain to be found there. 



