536 



NOCTUIDiE. 



7669. Achsea melicerta. 



Noctua melicerta, Drury, 111. Exot. Ins. i. p. 42, pi. 23. f. 1 (1770) ; Moore, 

 Lep. Ceyl. iii. p. 163, pi. 168. ff. 2 a. Z» ; Hmpsn. Moths Ind. ii. p. 494. 

 Noctua tigriiia, Fabr. Spec. Ins, ii. p. 218 (1781). 



Catccala traversii, Fereday, Trans. N.Z. Just. ix. p. 457, pi. 17 (1877). 

 AcJiCBa argilla, Swinh. A. M.N. H. (7) Tiii. p. 182 (1901). 

 Ophiusa eheikei, Beth.-Baker, Nov. Zool. xiii. p. 256 (1906). 



Head and thorax rufons ; palpi, pectus, legs, and abdomen grey- 

 brown. Fore wing rufous tinged with grey especially on medial 

 area and on termen below apex; subbasal line red-brown, waved, 

 from costa to submedian fold ; antemedial line red-brown, oblique, 

 sinuous, defined on outer side by whitish ; traces of a narrow 

 reniform defined by whitish and with black point at upper 

 extj'emity ; a faint double reddish minutely waved medial line, 



Fig. 124. — Achcea melicerta, cJ ■ 



oblique to vein 4, then incurved ; postmedial line indistinct, 

 double, red-brown, oblique and slightly defined on outer side by 

 white to vein 6, then slightly waved, excurved to vein 4, then 

 oblique, some pale points beyond it on costa ; traces of a waved 

 red-brown subterminal line ; a series of slight black points before 

 termen. Hind wing grey-brown to the narrow oblique bluish 

 white band from below middle of costa to above inner margin 

 towards tornus ; the rest of wing blackish, with white spot at apex, 

 larger spot on termen at discal fold, irregular mark in submedian 

 fold and slight mark at tornus ; cilia greyish brown, white at the 

 discal and submedian patches. Underside grey irrorated with 

 brown ; fore wing with some white on basal inner area, an oblique 



