ART. XXVII-PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE NORTH AMERI- 

 CAN PYRALIDJl. 



I. 



By a. E. Geote. 



To Prof. P. C. Zeller, Stettin, Gei'many. 



In the present paper I have discussed as fully as possible the struc- 

 ture of certain genera of I^orth America Phycidw. Several of our species 

 are found to be destructive to forestry and agriculture. I have also de- 

 scribed a small group, characterized by the flattened clypeus and by the 

 male antennae having a basal tegumentary prolongation, under the name 

 Upi^ascMce. In the Pyralididw, I have made some new synonymical 

 references and generic descriptions, and also enumerated the species of 

 N. Am. Botis which I have seen. I am much obliged to Doctor Pack- 

 ard for an opportunity of examining most of his types in this family. 

 A sense of the obligation which science at large owes to Professor Zel- 

 ler, as well as my own indebtedness to him for determinations, has 

 l^rompted my dedication of this little paper. 



PYEALIDID^. 



Peokasea, n. (J. 



Ocelli prominent. Front with a strong clypeal protuberance, its outer 

 face mesially impressed. Maxillary palpi linear, as long as the second 

 joint of the labial palpi, which latter are moderately long, linear, a lit- 

 tle flattened, with moderate third joint. The scales on the vertex de- 

 pend in front of the auteunse at base. Antennse simi)le, ciliate beneath. 

 Fore wings produced at apices, with oblique external margin, entire, 12- 

 veined ; 9 out of 8, a short furcation ; 4 and 5 separate, near together at 

 base. Hind wings 8- veined ; three internal veins counted as one ; 4 and 

 5 separate, near together at base, where they are connected by a cross- 

 vein; 5 continuous with the cross-vein closing the cell. Edge of both 

 wings a little uneven. 



This genus has a resemblance to the Noctuid genus Acopa of Harvey 

 in the shape of the wings and somewhat in color. It may be distin- 

 guished by the oblique transverse lines on the fore wings, the absence 

 of the thoracic tuft behind, and the neuration, while the clypeal pro- 

 tuberance is greatly more prominent. The neuration agrees with the 

 following genus Aedis, except that on the hind wings veins 4 and 5 do 



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