

LEPIDOPTERA OF NEW YORK AND NEIGHBORING STATES 685 



The superfamily on the whole is an isolated member of the general 

 Bombycid-Saturniid series, but not especially close to any particular 

 group; the likeness to Geometridse, Notodontida?, and Noctuidae being 

 mostly superficial, or due to the persistence of primitive characters. 

 They may possibly be nearest the Geometridae. The Oriental genus 

 Euchera connects the two families. Besides the two North American 

 families, the Brahmaeidae also appear to belong to the same stock. 



Family 42. THYATIRIDJE 



( Cymatophor idas ) 



North American species with deepty laminate antennae, tongue 

 developed but not very strong, and moderate palpi ; deep hairy or mixed 

 vestiture, with a truncate tuft, or rather, mass of hair-scales, on disc 

 of thorax, and hairy legs. Abdomen with small dorsal tufts. Fore 

 wing with R x free, R 2 from accessory cell near tip, R 3 and R 4 , or R 4 

 and R 5 shortly stalked from tip of accessory cell ; in the latter case, with 

 the cell closed by a crossvein, r. Accessory cell extending nearly half- 

 way to apex ; M! normally from it, M 2 from middle of end of cell ; both 

 middle and lower discocellular^veins Weak and bent; 3d A distinct. 

 Hind wing with middle discocellular at least twice as long as lower dis- 

 cocellular, and bent; 3d A well developed; frenulum strong, and, in 

 the male, knobbed at tip. 



Caterpillar (fig. 434) with head decidedly wider than high, labrum 

 deeply notched, vi on abdomen represented by two well-separated 

 setae; vii of 3 setae on leg-bearing segments, and 2 or 3 on the other 

 segments of abdomen. Seta iv higher than spiracle, sometimes almost 

 directly over spiracle and close to iii, v normally associated with one 

 or two subprimaries. Prolegs sometimes with rudimentary outer 

 hooks. The caterpillars live in a loosely rolled leaf. Pupa not 

 studied. 



A small family, formerly usually placed with the Noctuidas or Noto- 

 dontidae, which the species resemble superficially. In the Old World, 

 forms occur with M 2 either low or high in both wings, but otherwise 

 typical, even in pattern. 



Key to the genera 



1. Fore wing with a tuft a third way out on fold; R 3 and R 4 shortly stalked 



from accessory cell (fig. 433) 3. Euthyatira. 



1. Fore wing smooth-scaled; R 4 and R 5 shortly stalked from accessory cell, R 3 



free (fig. 432). 

 2. Fore wing with anal tuft; more than twice as long as wide. 



2. Pseudothyatira. 

 2. Fore wing without anal tuft; hardly twice as long as wide. . . .1. Habrosyne. 



