290 



tnsriTED STATES NATIONAL MUSEtlM BULLETIN 207 



Genera 178 and 179: Volatica and Vezina 



[Venational division A. Forewing with 11 veins; 8 and 9 long 

 stalked (9 rather weak). Hind wing with veins 3 and 5 approxi- 

 mate and from lower angle of cell. Labial palpi porrect or 

 oblique. Maxillary palpi minute. Transtilla complete and de- 

 veloped as an angulate bridge, or incomplete. Ductus bursae 

 with projecting sclerotized shield behind genital opening.] 



178. Volatica, new genus 



Type of genus: Zophodia pachytaeniella Ragonot. 



Tongue well developed. Antenna pubescent, simple. 

 Labial palpus porrect (second segment oblique, third 

 deflected forward), extending twice the length of head 

 beyond it, broadly scaled, third segment less than half 

 the length of second. Maxillary palpus minute, fili- 

 form. Forewing smooth; 11 veins; vein 2 from before, 

 but near, lower outer angle of cell; 3 from the angle; 4 

 and 5 stalked (for at least half their lengths) , the stalk 

 separated from 3 at base; 6 from below upper angle of 

 cell, straight; 8 and 9 long stalked (free element of 9 

 sometimes weak, but always present) ; 10 from the cell, 

 separated from the stalk of 8-9 at base; male without 

 costal fold. Hind wing with vein 2 from weU before 

 lower outer angle of cell; 3 and 5 from the angle, approxi- 

 mate at base; 7 and 8 anastomosed beyond cell for at 

 least half their lengths; cell about half the length of 

 wing; discoceUular vein curved. Eighth abdominal 

 segment of male simple. 



Male genitaUa of the Vitula type but larger and more 

 robust. 



Female genitalia vrith or without signa; bursa copu- 

 latrix more or less finely scobinate ; ductus bursae shorter 

 (in pachytaeniella) or very little longer than bursa 

 (trinitatis) , sclerotized for over half its length, the 

 sclerotized portion flattened except just before genital 

 opening and with a more or less rounded, projecting, 

 sclerotized shield behind genital opening; ductus 

 seminalis from bursa near signum. 



The genitalia, male and female, show the close rela- 

 tionship of this genus to the Vitula group despite the 

 forewing venation which is definitely that of venational 

 division A. Vein 9 while sometimes weak is always 

 present. In Vitula on the other hand vein 9 is nor- 

 mally absent, being present and weak only in occasional 

 specimens. Volatica is distinguished from aU the other 

 genera of the Moodna-Vitula complex by its porrect, 

 broadly scaled labial palpi. 



599. Volatica pachytaeniella (Ragonot), new combination 

 Figures 610, 1098 



Zophodia pachytaeniella Ragonot, Nouv. Gen., p. 31, 1888. — 

 Hampson, in Ragonot, Monograph, pt. 2, p. 23, 1901. 



Forewing white Hghtly sprinkled with brownish 

 fuscous scales giving the costal half of the wing a soiled 

 ashy white appearance; lower half of wing smeared with 

 a pale drab shade; on fresh specimens a pink streak 

 along lower margin at base; antemedial line angulate, 

 indicated chiefly by a rather broad blackish brown outer 



border; subterminal line more or less irregularly dentate, 

 bordered inwardly by a narrow blackish fuscous line; 

 discal spot at lower outer angle of ceU distinct, upper" 

 discal spot occasionally distinct but often obscure or 

 absent. Hind wing white; a broad fuscous shade along 

 costa; some darkening of the veins and a distinct dark 

 line along termen, broadening in most specimens. Alar 

 expanse, 26-33 mm. 



Male genitalia with vinculum slightly constricted 

 before terminal margin; apical end of harpe somewhat 

 spatulate. Female genitalia with bursa copulatrix 

 elongate, much longer than ductus bursae; signum 

 present, consisting of a short band of partially fused 

 discs; ductus bursae sclerotized for its entire length. 



Type locality: Rio de Janeiro, BrazU (type in Paris 

 Mus.). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Brazil: Parana, Castro, Ypiranga; 

 Rio de Janeiro, Petr6polis; Santa Catarina (no dates on 

 any specimens before me). 



A large, distinct species so far only known from 

 Brazil, easily identified by maculation, color, and 

 genitalic structure. 



600. Volatica trinitatis, new species 

 FiGUBBS 609, 1099 



Somewhat narrower winged than pachytaeniella, 

 similarly colored, but with whitish area of forewing 

 restricted to a narrower border along costa; transverse 

 lines obscured, only the antemedial line indicated in 

 male by a partial dark outer border, very faint in the 

 males before me, absent in the female; the latter shows 

 some dark scaling on the veins and has fuscous hind 

 wings; hind wing of male white with little or no dark 

 shading along costa or termen. Alar expanse, 24-26 

 mm. 



Male genitalia with apical process of gnathos longer 

 than in pachytaeniella (over twice as long as broad); 

 terminal margin of harpe evenly rounded; vinculum 

 not appreciably constricted towards terminal margin. 

 Female genitalia with bursa copulatrix somewhat 

 shorter than ductus bnrsae, without signiun; ductus 

 bursae sclerotized for not more than two-thirds of its 

 length, bent shghtly near membranous part of the 

 ductus. There are also differences in the shape of the 

 dorsal projecting shield at genital opening between 

 trinitatis and pachytaeniella, but these differences may 

 not be significant. 



Type locality: Fyzabad, Trinidad (type in Cornell 

 Univ. CoU.). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Described from male type and one male and one 

 female paratype from the type locality (Feb. 17, 19, 

 21, 1928) from the Cornell Collection, and one male 

 parat3rpe (USNM 61391) from Trinidad, without date 

 or more exact locality, collected by A. Busck. 



The species is very close to but apparently distinct 



