592 SIB G. r. HAMPSOK — BEVISION OP MOTHS [NoV. 15, 



Subfamily P Y E A u s T I If ^. 



Proboscis well developed. Pore wing with vein 1 a separate 

 from 1 6 ; 7 from the cell. Hind wing with the median nervure 

 non-pectinate on upperside, or rarely very slightly pectinated ; 

 4, 5 from a point, rarely stalked ; 7 almost always anastomosing 

 with 8. 



The accompanying phylogenetic table is worked out from an 

 examination of the characters of all the genera, and the conclusion 

 is reached that the ancestor of the Pyralidce would possess the 

 following generalized characters, all of which ai'e found in one or 

 other of the lower forms of the Pi/raustince : — palpi porrect, the 

 3rd joint short, naked ; maxillary palpi filiform ; proboscis well 

 developed; frons not prominent : antennae simple ; hind tibiae with 

 two pairs of spurs ; fore wing with all the veins from cell ; hind 

 wing with all the veins from cell ; 5 from middle of discocellulars ; 

 vein 8 approximated to but not anastomosing with 7 ; median 

 nervure non-pectinate. 



With these characters SimcetJiistis agrees except in having a 

 frontal prominence and annulate antennae, and Metaprotus is 

 a close ally. 



All the other genera have veins 8, 9 of fore wing stalked and 

 fall into two natural groups, those with porrect palpi and those 

 with upturned. 



Tineodes, StenojyiycJia, and Lineodes are Pterophorid-shaped 

 genera, the 1st with vein 5 from middle of discocellulars, the 2nd 

 "with it absent. 



Miiiiasarta has vein 5 of hind wing from above angle of cell 

 and almost obsolete. 



Noctuelia, Sceliodes, &c. are genera with .various frontal develop- 

 ments and the 3rd joint of palpi naked. 



Pyrausta has the palpi triangularly scaled, the 3rd joint hidden 

 in hair: from it are developed two large groups of genera — (1) with 

 the maxillary palpi more or less dilated with scales, of which Pionea 

 is typical, giving rise to Mnesictena, with the median nervure of 

 hind wing pectinate ; Metasia, Titanio, Monoco7ia, &c., with various 

 frontal developments ; Prochoristis, with vein 6 of hind wing from 

 below angle of cell ; Calamochrous, Mecyna, Noordn, &c., with 

 longer rostriform palpi, culminating in Microcausta, with vein 4 of 

 hind wing absent ; Sparaymia and Terastiodes, with the fore wing 

 long and narrow, the termen excurved or angled at middle ; and 

 Diasemia &c., with the antennae annulate : (2) genera that retain 

 the filiform maxillary palpi, Aplectrojms, tibiae without spurs ; 

 genera such as Phlycicenodes, Loxoneptera, &c. with prominent 

 frons ; Adelaides and Maruca wdth very long antennae ; and 

 Ischnurges with annulate antenna). 



Everc/estis, OmpJiisa, ArcJiernis, Meroctena are primitive forms 

 with porrect palpi and the 3rd joint naked ; Furcivena haA'ing 

 veins 4, 5 of both wings stalked ; and from a form like Arcfiernis 

 was developed the gi-oiip with upturned palpi, Ne\irop>hyseta and 



