38 



Revision of the Australian Hesperiad-^e. 



By Edward Meyrick, B.A., F.Z.S., and Oswald Lower, 

 F.E.S., Lond., &c. 



[Read June 3, 1902.] 



HESPERIAD^. 



Eyes glabrous. Club of autennse large, strong, basal joint 

 ^th long liair tuft. Anterior legs fully developed ; posterior 

 tibiae usually with, middle spurs. Forewings with all veins 

 separate. Hind wings with 5 generally absent. 



A large family, generally distributed, but absent from New 

 Zealand. Most abundant within the tropics. 



Many arrangements have been proposed by different writers 

 •on this group, but we have adopted the system of numbering 

 the veins, which for brevity and clearness appearsi to us ample 

 for the study and recognition of the different genera. The 

 position of vein 5 of the forewing in relation with 6 and 4 

 proves a valuable generic character. The shape of the club, 

 and the absence or presence of the stigma of the male, are also 

 useful guides, and although the latter varies much in shape and 

 size it is remarkably constant in individual species. The pat- 

 tern of the wings and general coloring of the upper side are 

 very similar in coloration and appearance, especially so in the 

 Indo-Malayan forms, and it is highly probable that some of our 

 species will prove to be synonymic with Oriental forms, but long 

 series and further study are required to give anything approach- 

 ing finality to the subject. The best and most important 

 markings fur identification will be found on the under surface 

 of the hindwings, and the shape of the hindwings has been 

 characterised where of any value. The markings of the female 

 are generally similar to the opposite sex, but more strongly 

 developed. The descriptions of larvae and pupae are given 

 where known, and it will be noticed that a large proportion 

 of the species feed on species of Cladium, and are usually full 

 fed in October and November. We have enumerated eighty 

 species, all of which are distinct. We have fully a dozen 

 others, but not in a fit condition for description. The reputed 

 Australian species are enumerated at the end of the paper. 



