RHODOSTROPHIA. By L. B. Prout. 39 



radial; of hindwing with this band terminating at the second median or only just beyond, whereas in cnlabra 

 and usually in sicanaria sicanaria it reaches at least to the first submedian, oftener still further or even to the 

 inner margin. Gibraltar, type (3*) in coll. L. B. Prout ; Algeria, 3 (J(J in coll. Pungele r; also general in Southern 

 Spain, where it has been recorded as sicanaria. Thus Dr. Rebel, in his edition of Berge's „Schmetterlingsbuch", 

 indicates sicaiuiria as having all the spurs present, although in his diagnosis of the genus he makes one or 

 both of the median spurs always absent in the ^ — the latter an error. Staudinger records one Andalusian 

 sport with only three spurs, and justifies, by the occasional irregularities, the union of the two races. 



R. sieversi Ghr. (2 k) is superficially very like a large calabra tabidaria, to which, indeed, Staudinger sievrrsL 

 at one time by a strange oversight sank it. The structure of the (J hindtibia, however, is nearly that of sicanaria, 

 only with the median spur slightly more slender still. The wuigs, too, are of the lighter, clearer yellow of 

 sicanaria. Basal area of forewing suffused with rosy, as in the two forms named; outer band placed rather 

 nearer to the distal margin, with its edges more deeply indented, sometimes indeed in part broken into separate 

 segments by the veins remaining of the ground-colour. Under surface of the forewing with the discal spot 

 blackish, not rosy as in the allies; but particularly characterized by a very strong dark smoke-coloured suffu- 

 sion extending from close to the posterior margin to the median fold or beyond and from the base about to 

 the outer band. This shade, though often famtly suggested, is never nearly so intense in the allied species. 

 Armenia: Erivan and Urdabad; N. W. Persia: Urumiah. Range therefore apparently very restricted. 



R. vibicaria is the best-known species of the genus and the most northerly in its geographical range. 

 It differs from calabra in its less yellow ground-colour, more sharply-marked rose-coloured lines, with wider 

 space between the rnedian and postmedian, but especially in the shape of the distal margin of the hindwing, 

 which is bent or bluntly angled at the third radial vein, whereas in calabra it is almost regularly rounded, but a 

 little straighter from the first to the third radial than anteriorly and posteriorly. The species is very variable 

 in coloration, but only slightly in the position and course of the lines. It was well known to many of the old 

 entomologists and was figured, with its early stages, by Reaumur, Esper, Schwarz and others. The egg is 

 oval, slightly irregular, flattened at both ends and mth a strong depression in the middle ; about 1 6 longitudinal 

 ribs, which are transversely grooved; light yellow, changing in 2 or 3 days to bright, light red. The larva is 

 yellowish grey, dorsally brown, occasionally more tinged with ochreous or red, or even with greenish; a light, 

 darker-edged medio-dorsal line; ventral area whitish. The skin is somewhat rugose, the segment-incisions 

 not deep, the subsegments very numerous; tubercles black, bearing single setae. Feeds on Sarothamnus and 

 many other plants. The hibernating stage must be variable. De Graaf, who gives the best life-history, found 

 it hibernated as a larva. Brahm definitely says as a pupa, this period lasting about 7 months. Ruhl obtained 

 eggs from the second brood which did not hatch till the following spring. Rebel says the young larvae often 

 hibernate. Pupa yellowish brown. The moth is double-brooded in many parts of its range, but single-brooded 

 northwards (June-July, Central France, Holland, etc.). It hides by day in the grass, but, like most Geo- 

 metridae, can readily be induced to fly. — vibicaria CI. (= cruentata Scop. = artriosa Geoff.) (2 k) is the form vibicaria. 

 in which a rather narrow rosy band follows the middle line, filling in part of the space between this and the 

 outer line. It inhabits most of Europe, the north of Asia Minor, Armenia and Siberia. — ab. roseata Ersch. roseaia. 

 has the rose-coloured shading occupying the basal area of the forewing and extended diffusely from the median 

 line to the distal margin of both wings, thus covering the greater part of the wings. A $ in the collection 

 of J. W. LoDEESEN is figured by Sepp (Ned. Ins. (2) vol. 4, pi. 36, fig. 18). — In ab. intermedia Kempny the intermedia. 

 rosy suffusion is more extended than in the type, but less than in ab. roseata, the basal area of the forewing 

 remaining of the normal ground-colour. — In ab. rubrofasciata Hufn. (= rubrociliata Goeze = fasciata Ebl.) rubrof as- 

 only the space between the median and postmedian lines is rosy. — strigata Stgr. (2 k, (J$) forms a local race '^'^"■f"- 

 in the most southerly localities where the species occurs, as in Lambessa (a large form, not variable, represented 

 by our $ figure), Spain (excepting the north), Sicily, Persia and the AlaTau Mountains; but occasionally appe- 

 ars in other localities as an aberration. It differs in the complete absence of the pink bands, only the lines 

 and discal spot remaining; even the fringe is less brightly rosy than in the tjrpe. — unicolorata /Sig'r. is a race, unicoloraia. 

 or perhaps a closely allied species, in which the lines are also obsolete, both wings being of an almost uniform 

 yellowish, with the fringes tinged with rose-colour. It is recorded from the Altai, S. E. Siberia and the Alal Tau. 



R. auctata Stgr. (2 k) rather resembles vibicaria strigata in coloration, but differs markedly in shape, auctata. 

 as well as in the position and course of the lines, etc. The forewing is rather longer and narrower, the distal 

 margin being more oblique; the hindwing is shaped almost as in the badiaria group, with the distal margin 

 nearly straight from the anal angle to towards the first radial. The median line is a little thickened, placed 

 slightly nearer to the postmedian than in vibicaria, and makes a faint proximad curve in its posterior half. Both 

 wings become slightly flushed with pink distally, the fringes brighter pink. Discal spot present on both wings, 

 but small. Both wings beneath are slightly more yellowish, the discal spots weak, median and postmedian lines 

 present, the forewing mostly suffused with dark grey from the base to the median line; the fringes pmk. Asia 

 Minor to Armenia, local. 



