36 RHODOSTROPHIA. By L. B. Prottt. 



spurs and a single median spur or a pair; in $ with all spurs. Hindtarsus not abbreviated. Forewing with 

 areole double, the second subcostal vein arising either from the cell or from the stalk of the 3. — 5. subcostals. 

 Hindwing with the second subcostal stalked with the first median. 



Very few of the larvae are known. They are extremely long and slender, tapering a little anteriorly, 

 the face and sides of the head flattened; they feed on low plants and hibernate. Pupa also slender, broadening 

 markedly anteriorly ; two strong spines at anal extremity, small knobs at their base, two pairs of hooka before them. 



The genus, with the exception of one or two species, has a distinctive aspect and, notwithstandmg 

 the structural variation in one or two details noted above, is m general easy to recognize. Meyeick considers 

 that "it must certainly closely approach the primitive type" of the subfamily. Its geographical distribution 

 is peculiar, as it appears to be confined to the Palearctic Region, North India and Chili. Its head-quarters 

 are undoubtedly in Central Asia, and the boundaries of the Palearctic and Indo-Australian Regions furnish 

 many species, but we regard it as belonging essentially to the former. 



The commonest and at the same time most distinctive type of coloration is that seen in the best- 

 known European species — a yellowish ground-colour mth bright rose-coloured lines or bands. Variation 

 consists chiefly in the degree of development of the bands, both as regards depth of colour and extent, and 

 many species produce occasionally a unicolorous form, the ground-colour being evenly dusted over throughout. 



For convenience of determination the genus can be subdivided according to the hindtibial armature 

 of the (J and the point of origin of the second subcostal vein of the forewing; but it seems quite certain 

 that neither of these characters (so often of value generically) is in the present genus of high taxonomic impor 

 tance. Thus the spurring would place quadricalcarata in a different section from its Sicilian representative 

 sicanaria, while the venation, though constant in most species, sometimes varies in fhilolaches and vinacearia, 

 and occasional variability may be expected in some other species. The species -ndth 4-spurred ^, which must 

 be considered the more ancestral, all inhabit the southern Palearctic Region. 



A. Section Rhodostrophia. Second subcostal of forewing arising from cell. 



badiaria-group. 



cJ hindtibia with 4 spurs. Distal margm of hindwing usually pretty straight from anal angle to first 

 radial. The markmgs rarely rose-coloured. 



R. jacularia is a conspicuous species, easily recognized by the strongly darkened markings on a light 



ground-colour, the outer band of the forewing strongly sinuous, followed by a white line. The hindwing above 



is paler than the forewing. Under surface of both \\dngs pale, almost entirely unmarked. — The type-form, 



jacularia. jacularia Hbn. (3 e) with yellow-brown ground-colour and with a distinct line on the hindwing, ranges from 



carnosaria. South-East Russia to the Changai Mountains in Western Mongolia. — The ab. carnosaria Stgr. is, according 



to its author, a form with the forewing and distal border of hindwing more reddish, the line on the hindwmg 



obsolete. It is reported from the Eastern Thian-Shan and the Changai Mountains, possibly forming a local 



minor, race in the former district. — minor Alph. is a very small form from the Ordos district, Mongolia (about 



25 mm expanse) with almost unmarked hindwing. 



vastaria. R. vastaria CAj\ is ill Some respects intermediate between ^'acwlarm and &arfiana, the absence of a middle 



line and the frequent presence of rather strong dark shading proximally to the outer somewhat recalling the 

 former species, while the less bright, more dark-dusted ground-colour, with the hindwing not or scarcely whiter 

 than the forewing, the less oblique inner line and some other characters seem to place it nearer to badiaria. 

 The inner line is at least as far from the base on the posterior margin as on the costa, is more or less interrupted 

 by the veins and thickened distally between them. Tlie outer is sinuate and somewhat dentate, and projects 

 rather strongly near its posterior end, thus reaching the margin very near the posterior angle. The under 

 surface is almost unmarked. The $ is paler than the (J. Described from Krasnovodsk, Transcaspia, where 

 it flies on the sandy steppes in May; also occurs in the Thian-shan district. 



.-hadiaria. R. badiaria -P'rr. (= emucidaria Ev. = telaria H.-Sch. = praecanaria Ev.) (3d, as praecisaria). Light 



• brownish grey, finely dusted with darker scales, again more weakly marked than the preceding species, but 

 with a median line present on both wmgs, placed about half-way between the discal spot and the outer line, 

 the latter not accompanied proximally by a dark band. Hindwing slightly paler. Under surface almost without 

 markings. Distributed throughout Asiatic Turkey, extending in one direction into Southern Russia and in 

 another into Persia. The example which served as model for our figure came from Armenia. The names of this 

 species and praecisaria are unfortunately transposed on the plate. Of the habits of this species we have at 

 present but little knowledge, but it is said to frequent dry fields and hills in the months of May and June. 



