190 BULLETIN 123, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



9 and 11 ; 11 from cell just before middle ; upper internal vein of 

 cell from between 10 and 11; 3, 4 and 5 closely approximate at 

 termen; 2 straight; costal fold of male present. 



Hind wing with 8 veins; 6 and 7 closely approximate towards 

 base ; 3 and 4 stalked ; in the male a conspicuous hair tuft from lower 

 median vein at base of cell. 



Male genitalia with a row of long stout spines (2-3) on outer 

 surface of harpe near apex; cucullus irregularly trigonate, large; 

 neck smooth, sacculus densely clothed with long hair-like spines. 

 Uncus present; weak; slender; moderately long. Socii broadly 

 triangular. Gnathos greatlj^ reduced; partially fused with socii. 



CROCIDOSEMA PLEBEIANA Zeller. 



(Figs. 10, 29, 29a, 325.) 



Crocidosema plebemna Zeller, Isis, 1847, p. 721. — Staudingek and Rebel, Cat. 



Lepid., vol. 2, no. 1968, 1901.— Heineich, Journ. Agr. Res., voL 20, 1921, 



p. 822. 

 Encosma plebeiana Walsingham, Biol. Cent. Amer. Lepid. Heter., a-oI. 4, 1914. 



pp. 231-232. 



This widely distributed species is the only one of the genus to be 

 found in our fauna. Crocidosema marcidellMin Walsingham from 

 Hawaii is congeneric and resembles plebeiana very strongly in both 

 pattern and genitalia. Busck's lantana^ also from Hawaii, and de- 

 scribed by him as a Crocidosema is, however, an Epinotia with the 

 typical Epinotia genitalia. 



The larva of pleheiana is a feeder in the seeds, fruits and flowers 

 of various malvaceae with habits much the same as those of the Pink 

 Bollworm {Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders). 



There are considerable differences in color and pattern between 

 the males and females. In the latter the fuscous basal patch does 

 not extend to the costa and the greater part of the wing above the 

 fold is ochreous, while in the male the entire wing above the middle 

 is shaded with brownish fuscous. 



Male genitalia figured from specimens in National Collection 

 from San Diego, California ("W. S. Wright, 9-30-1911"). 



Distribution according to specimens in National Collection Ameri- 

 can Museum, and collection Barnes : California and Texas. 



Alar expanse. — 12-14 mm. 



Type. — Location unknown. 



Type locality. — Syracuse, Sicily. 



Food plants. — Various Malvaceae., Crataegus. 



