AMERICAN MOTHS OF THE SUBFAMILY PHYCITINAE 



213 



Ductus seminalis from anterior end of bursa or from 

 bursa near its jimcture with ductus bursae. 



The genus Mescinia is closely related to the foregoing 

 three genera (Aptunga, Anderida, Cassiana) and to 

 Nonia, all of which have similar genitalia, especially in 

 the male, but which are readily separable on venation. 

 Mescinia is an American genus without, as far as I know, 

 any properly included exotic species. Hampson {in 

 Ragonot, Monograph, pt. 2, pp. 84, 86) includes one 

 Indian species, micans Hampson, but this obviously is 

 wrongly referred for it lacks vein 10 of forewing and 

 has 4 and 5 from the cell and not stalked as they should 

 be for Mescinia. 



Our species divide into three groups on size as follows: 



Alar expanse less than 15 mm. 



Alar expanse more than 15 but less than 20 mm. 



Alar expanse more than 20 mm. 



The first two groups are typical Mescinia on all struc- 

 tural characters, but the two large species in the third 

 group are somewhat abnormal, especially indecora, 

 which is aberi-ant on both male and female genitalia. 

 The other species (discella) has normal male genitalia, 

 but the female lacks a signum, and in both the anasto- 

 mosis of veins 7 and 8 of hind mng is considerably 

 shorter than in normal Mescinia. 



Among the species of the first group the color and 

 pattern differences are trifling, and the distinctions 

 stressed by Dyar between his species are as much due 

 to the condition of the specimens as to differences in 

 color or intensity of dark scaling. Genitalic differences 

 are also slight, but apparently more reliable. The best 

 characters are found in the signa, the apical process of 

 gnathos, and the armature of the penis. With the few 

 specimens from widely scattered localities and the 

 scanty biological information available, it is almost im- 

 possible to define specific limits in this group with any 

 certainty. 



Genus Mescinia, Species 421-428: M. triloses to 

 M. berosa 



[Alar expanse less than 16 mm.] 



421. Mescinia triloses Dyar 

 Figures 468, 965 



Mescinia triloses Dyar, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 47, p. 341, 



1914. 

 Mescinia mosces Dyar, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 47, p. 341, 



1914 (new synonymy). 



Forewing sordid white, the costal area paler and con- 

 trasted; dark markings pale brownish fuscous; discal 

 dots more or less confluent; antemedian line obscure; 

 subterminal dark line rather well marked in unrubbed 

 specimens; in fresh examples a dark streak along outer 

 half of fold (replacing the absent vein Ic). Hind wing 

 whitish, the veins faintly outlined by dark scaling; 

 discoceUular vein slightly curved. Veins 2 and 3 of 

 forewing are stalked for about one-third and veins 4-5 

 for approximately one-half their lengths. Alar ex- 

 panse, 10-14 mm. 



Type locality: Taboga Isl., Panamd (Triloses and 

 Mosces, in USNM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Panama: Alhajuelo (Apr.), Corazal 

 (Feb.), Taboga Isl. (Feb.). 



The specimens of Dyar's mosces are a trifle darker and 

 more strongly marked than those of triloses, but they 

 represent only the least rubbed of a series coUected on 

 the same date at the same locality and exhibit no struc- 

 tural differences of any significance in genitalia. I am 

 unable to distinguish any trace of the "faintly pinkish" 

 color which Dyar mentions in his descriptions. 



422. Mescinia pandessa Dyar 



Figure 469 

 Mescinia pandessa Dyar, Ins. Insc. Menstr., vol. 7, p. 60, 1919. 



In color and markings similar to the females of 

 mosces. Possibly nothing more than a variety or race 

 of triloses, but exhibiting a few slight structural differ- 

 ences: NaiTOwer harpes, a somewhat stronger scobina- 

 tion on penis, and a wider spacing of the bifid apical 

 process of gnathos. Such differences are hardly signifi- 

 cant, but in the absence of females it is safer to retain 

 the names in specific rank for the present. Veins 2 and 

 3 of forewing stalked for two-thirds and 4 and 5 for 

 one-half or slightly more than one-half of their lengths. 

 DiscoceUular vein of hind wing as in triloses. Alar 

 expanse, 12-13 mm. 



Type locality: Cayuga, Guatemala (Apr., type in 

 USNM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



KJnown only from the types series from Cayuga. 

 The specimens in the National Collection are all males. 



423. Mescinia bacerella Dyar 



Figures 94, 470, 962 

 Mescinia bacerella Dyar, Ins. Insc. Menstr., vol. 7, p. 59, 1919. 



General color somewhat darker than triloses or 

 pandessa; costal area of forewing more contrasted, 

 whitish with a scattering of reddish brown scales. 

 Genitalia showing only minute differences from those of 

 preceding species. Veins 2 and 3 of forewing stalked 

 for two-thirds and 4 and 5 stalked for one-half their 

 lengths. DiscoceUular vein of hind wing very slightly 

 cm-ved. Alar expanse, 12 mm. 



Type locality: Havana, Cuba (type in USNM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Cuba: Havana, SierraMaestra (Jan.). 



424. Mescinia estrella Barnes and McDunnough 

 Figures 473, 963 



Mescinia estrella Barnes and McDunnough, Contributions, vol. 2, 

 p. 182, 1913.— McDunnough, Check list. No. 6322, 1939. 



Wing pattern similar to that of other species in this 

 group, but (in reared examples especiaUy) dark mark- 

 ings more intense and whitish costal area of forewing 

 more conspicuously dusted with reddish scales. Male 

 genitalia simUar to those of pandessa except bifid apical 



