82 ■ GLOSSOTROPHIA. By L. B. Prout. 



lengths. A cJ from Herr Kaden without locality". The figure shows the median shade, especially on the 

 forewing, thick and dark. 



13. Genus: CJlossotropIiia ge,n. nov. 



Face smooth, broad. Palpus in both sexes short, terminal joint distinct. Tongue long, in most species 

 extraordinarily elongate. Antenna in (^ with rather long fascicles of cilia. Hindtibia of ^ not thickened, 

 typically with a single spur (in diffinaria without spurs, in /wcoia and ewrato with two), in $ with two spurs; 

 hindtarsus in both sexes long. Neuration as in Acidalia. 



Type of the genus: confinaria H.-Scli. {Acidalia). 



The early stages, so far as is known, are similar to those of Acidalia. But the pupa, in all the spe- 

 cies with the extraordinarily long tongue, shows a remarkable adaptation to accommodate this organ. The 

 tongue-case stands out free and after extending some distance beyond the anal extremity of the pupa curves 

 in a wide sweep dorsad and extends over the back of the pupa nearly as far as to the thorax. The larvae 

 are for the most part attached to Caryophyllaceae (Dianthus, Silene, etc.) and the moths, like those of the 

 Noctuid genus Dianthoecia, are no doubt adapted for fertilizmg these flowers. 



Apart from the abnormal tongue-structure, which is not absolutely invariable, the erection of this 

 genus is necessitated by the absence of the middle pair of spurs in the $. A study of Acidalia from all 

 parts of the world has shown that the spurs of the $ can be relied upon. From Ptychopoda, which also possess 

 2-spurred $$, GlossotropMa is abundantly distinct in the elongate larvae, the neuration of the hindwing 

 (the second subcostal not being stalked) and many other characters. It is evidently derived from Acidalia, 

 and indeed from forms such as coenosaria or submutata ; like the latter, it has a fine black line extending round 

 the apex of the forewing. 



The geographical range of GlossotropMa is apparently restricted to the southern part of the Western 

 Palearctic Region and N. W. India. 



confinaria. G. confinaria H.-Sch. (4 i, ^ as confinaria, $ as coenosaria). Very variable in colour, according to the 



nature of the rocks on which it rests. The typical form is cinereous, usually with a famt tinge of yellowish. 

 The lines are rather thick, especially the median, but are not usually very intense; they arise from three 

 (usually equidistant) dark costal spots. As usual, only two of these lines are present on the hindwing; but 

 these appear as continuations of the first and second, not (as in the similar species of Acidalia) of the second 

 and third. Dark discal spots are jjrcsent, but not very intense. The pale subterminal line is formed nearly 

 as in A. marginepuncUita, being strongly swollen between the radials and near the posterior margin and lunulate 

 between. Distal marginal line black, very slender and interrupted, anteriorly somewhat thickened be- 

 tween the veins, but never forming definite black dots. Under surface very glossy, without markings or 

 with a very faint postmedian line present on the forewing or on both wings; the forewing usually also with 

 faint traces of the second and third dark costal spots of the upperside ; hindwing more whitish than forewing. 

 Tongue extremely long. -(^ antennal shaft thick, the ends of the joints somewhat projecting, the fascicles of 

 falsaria. cilia very strong; hindtibia with a snigle sjDur. — ab. falsaria H.-Sch. (= luridata Rbl. nee Z.) (4 h) is a very, 

 much darker form, of a deep brown-grey colour, occurring with the tjrpe-form in some localities but replacing 

 it in others. Our figure is not dark enough. Pungeler has pointed out that it is not quite certain that fa.l- 

 saria is the correct name for the form which is ordinarily so designated; for Herrich-Schaffer figured a 

 specimen from the Caucasus and it is not yet proved that the well-known form of Central Europe occurs 

 arenacea. there. — ab. arenacea ab. nov. represents the other principal phase of colour variation, in which the yellower 

 extemiaia. scales predominate, giving to the insect a strongly sandy tone. — ab. extenuata ah. nov. is a very small, 

 grey, weakly-marked form which may occur sometimes with the type but which deserves attention on account 

 sacraria. of its tending to form a local race on the Island of Capri, whence I have seen it in numbers. — sacraria 

 Bang-Haas (3 1, as confinaria) is an interesting local race or closely allied species from Uralsk, distinguishable 

 at once by the white ground-colour, absence of the dark median shade of the forewing and reduction or absence 

 of the cell-spots. The structure appears to agree entii'ely with that of confinaria unless possibly the antennal 

 joints in the ^ are slightly less swollen. — The larva of confinaria is long and slender, without sharp lateral 

 carination; the dorsal line is very fine and pale, a little more distinct on the thoracic segments and the 

 last three abdominals; there is a rather intricate dark dorsal pattern, The ground-colour is in general lighter 

 or darker grey. It feeds on Silene inflata. It has been correctly described by Rebel; Milliere's figures 

 and description can scarcely belong to this species. The moth appears in June, July and August and is 

 widely distributed in Southern and Southern Central Europe. It is said to occur also in Transcaucasia and 

 a variety in the Brussa district. The small form extenuata, Herr Pungeler informs me, occurs in Central 

 Italy together with romanaria Mill, which is similar in size but always reddish and distinguishable by the 

 less long tongue. 



