214 



tTNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 207 



process of gnathos (fig. 473) somewhat more widely divi- 

 ded (as in parvula) . The spining of the female signum is 

 almost identical to that of triloses (compare figs. 468 

 and 963). Veins 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 of forewing 

 stalked from slightly less than one-half to about one- 

 half their lengths, discocellular of hind wing decidedly 

 curved. The length of the stalking of the forewing 

 veins should not be given too much importance in 

 identifying species, for it is a variable character in any 

 considerable series of any given species. Alar expanse, 

 12-14 mm. 



Type locality: Everglade, Fla. (type in USNM). 



Food plants: Melanthara radiata (rearings of the 

 Special Survey of the Div. Foreign Plant Quar., U. S. 

 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Nos. 

 24851, 24867) ; Bidens (larva in the flower heads). 



Distribution: Florida, Everglade (Apr.), Key West 

 (Apr.), Sugar Loaf Key (Mar.), Sarasota (Jan., Feb., 

 Mar.). 



425. Mescinia moorei, new species 



Figure 472 



In color and superficial appearance most resembling 

 bacareUa but differing in details of genitalia, a somewhat 

 broader extension of the whitish costal margin of forewing 

 and less contrasted dark border of the subterminal line. 

 The outstanding character seems to be the narrow, 

 evenly spaced, parallel, and somewhat elongate prongs of 

 the bifid apical process of gnathos (fig. 472c) . Veins 2 and 

 3 of forewing are stalked for about one-third and veins 

 4-5 for approximately half their lengths. Alar expanse, 

 11 mm. 



Type locality: Mon Repos, British Guiana (type in 

 USNM, 61369). 



Food plant: Seeds of Wvlffia. 



Described from male type and female paratype from 

 the type locality reared by H. W. B . Moore, for whom the 

 species is named. There are no dates on the specimens 

 and they are in poor condition, somewhat broken though 

 not badly rubbed. I should not have described them 

 had they not been reared and been previously identified 

 as parvula Zeller and that name probably been given to 

 Mr. Moore. The species should be easUy recognized if 

 other specimens from the host plant are discovered in 

 British Guiana. 



426. Mescinia parvula (Zeller) 

 Figures 471, 960 



Ephestia parvula Zeller, Horae Soc. Ent. Rossicae, vol. 16, p. 249, 



1881. 

 Mescinia parvula (Zeller) Hampson, in Ragonot, Monograph, 



pt. 2, p. 85, 1901. 



Similar to the other species of the group in color and 

 markings, except for the much darker, more contrasted 

 lining of the veins of hind wing. Differs strikingly from 

 all other described species of the genus in the angulate 

 projection from the costa of harpe. Alar expanse, 12 

 mm. 



Type locality: Honda, Colombia (type in BM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Colombia: Honda. 



There are no examples of parvula in the U. S. National 

 Museum and the series in the British Museum is prob- 

 ably mixed, as Hampson mentions a specimen from 

 Colombia with veins 2 and 3 from the cell. 



427. Mescinia conunatella (Zeller) 

 Figure 961 



Ephestia commatella Zeller, Horae Soc. Ent. Rossicae, vol. 16, 



p. 247, 1881. 

 Mescinia comatella (Zeller) Ragonot, Monograph, pt. 2, p. 84, 



1901. 



Kjiown to me only from description and figure of the 

 female type. Apparently distinguished by the incom- 

 plete but strong white antemedian fascia, slanting 

 obliquely from inner margin to top of cell and parallel 

 with outer margin. Alar expanse, 13 mm. 



The female genitalia of the type shows a single small 

 disklike signum. 



Type locality: Ceiba, Colombia (type in BM) . 



Food plant: Unknown. 



428. Mescinia berosa Dyar 



Figure 966 



Mescinia berosa Dyar, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 47, p. 341, 1914. 



The female type from which the original description 

 was drawn is faded and somewhat rubbed. A fresher 

 female example from Puerto Rico shows the dark areas 

 of forewing a dark vinous fuscous and the whitish costal 

 area somewhat speckled with rufous scales; discal and 

 terminal dots blackish. Hind wing smoky, the veins,, 

 apical area, and terminal margin darker. Female geni- 

 talia with bursa copulatrix narrowly elongate; signum a 

 large elongate patch of many stout, bluntly pointed, 

 thornlike spines; ductus seminalis from btirsa near junc- 

 ture of bursa and ductus bursae. Veins 2 and 3 of fore- 

 wing stalked for about two-thirds and 4 and 5 for 

 slightly more than half their lengths. Discocellular 

 vein of hind wing decidedly curved. Alar expanse, 12 

 mm. 



Type locality: Rio Trinidad, Panamd (type in 

 USNM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Panama: Rfo Trinidad (Mar.). 

 Puerto Rico: El Semil, near ViUalba, elevation 1,700 

 feet (May). 



Known to me only from two female examples in th& 

 National Collection. 



Genus Mescinia, Species 429: M. peruella 



[Alar expanse more than 15, less than 20 mm.] 



429. Mescinia peruella Schaus 



Figures 474, 964 



Mescinia peruella Schaus, Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 29^ 

 p. 186, 1927.— Wille, Rev. de Ent., Brazil, vol. 4, p. 455^ 

 1934. 



Forewing gray with costa whitish nearly to apex; 

 under magnification showing a sparse, scattered dusting- 

 of rufous scales; transverse markings and discal spots 



I 



