PTYCHOPODA. By L. B. Prout. ' 139 



incisions; ventral surface almost uniform olive-brown. Feeds on various low plants, possibly with a preference 

 for Convolvulus, to the curved withered stems of which it bears a close resemblance; fresh or withered 

 leaves seem to be equally acceptable. Pupa smooth and shining, reddish yellow with greenish wings; the 

 pupal stage is of short duration. On the wing in June, July and August, and in captivity a partial second 

 brood may be obtained. Sluggish by day and not so easily disturbed as many of the species; flies at late 

 dusk and after dark and is strongly attracted by light. Europe and the Altai, widely distributed but rarely 

 very abundant, inhabiting chiefly damp places where there are hedges or bushes, the borders of damp woods, etc 



The following recently-described species are unknown to me and little or no 

 clue is given as to their systematic position, but they will no doubt — with the pos- 

 sible exception of the last — be found to belong to Ptychopoda. 



Pt. euphorbiata . 5a^es<re (as Acidalia) "Expanse about 20 mm. cf. Wings didl yellowish sprinkled eMpfeorfiiato. 

 with some black atoms. Forewing traversed by two black lines: the extrabasal, more black at the costa, 

 forms a rounded bend towards the discal dot, which is hardly marked; the postmedian, blacker at the costa 

 and at the inner margin, forms an acute angle distally opposite the discal dot; subterminal hardly marked 

 by a shght shade. Hindwing with two undulate lines continuing those of the forewing, the subterminal shade 

 and a discal dot well marked. Fringe lighter, preceded by a series of small black dots. Under surface 

 shining pale yellow, strongly irrorated with black atoms, with the postmedian line alone visible, better 

 marked in black than above; discal dots hardly visible. ? similar. Near Nice: Mount Pacanaglia. Larva 

 short, attenuated anteriorly, rugose, carinated, uniformly black. It lives on Euphorbia spinosa, hibernates, and 

 pupates in IMay. Emerges in July". 



Pt. oberthuriata Balestre (as Acidalia). "Expanse about 10 mm. cf. Bone-colour speckled with hlsick oherthuriata. 

 atoms. Forewing with the ordinary lines, rather well marked, and a thicker and darker median shade; all 

 these lines formed by condensation of the black atoms. The extrabasal nearly vertical, forming a rounded 

 bend at the costa. The postmedian makes a similar rounded bend opposite to the discal dot, which is 

 hardly visible, sometimes wanting; median shade nearly straight. Hindwing with the same lines and a discal 

 dot, always better marked than on the forewing. Fringe of both wings long, concolorous with the wings, 

 preceded by a series of small black dots. ? similar, but with the wings always more copiously black- 

 speckled. Near Nice: IVlount Pacanaglia. Larva short, folded, rugose, carinated, of a light burnt brown dotted 

 with black. Head reddish with the hairs small and nearly colourless. Lateral line fine, dirty yellow, hardly 

 visible. Dorsally three lunulate markings are observable, their points directed caudad. It lives in the detritus 

 which is found under Euphorbia spinosa and eats the withered leaves of this plant. It hibernates, pupating in July. 

 The perfect insect emerges in August. The smallest species of the genus, dedicated to M. Charles OBERXHiJR". 



Pt. couloniata Balestre (as Acidalia). "Expanse about 12 mm. cf. Wings vinous bone-yellow, glossy, coidoniata. 

 Forewing traversed by two black lines, widely separated: the extrabasal, strongly marked at the costa, is 

 slightly rounded; from the median vein to the inner margin, it is accompanied by a thick black mark, rect- 

 angular in form, situate in the median area; postmedian arising from a strong black costal mark, of about 

 1 mm, then forming a slight elbow distally, afterwards proceeding in an almost straight line to the inner 

 margin; discal dot wanting. Hindwing with two lines continuing those of the forewing: the extrabasal thick, 

 diffuse, formed of numerous blackish atoms; postmedian fine and slightly undulate; discal dot black, distinct. 

 Fringes concolorous with wings, preceded by a series of small black dots. Under surface pale shining 

 yellow, unmarked, the forewing having merely a black mark on the costa; discal dots very small, visible on 

 both wings. ? similar, but with the markings less dark. Near Mentone: Annonciata Hill. Larva light earth- 

 brown, rugose, folded transversely, carinated, with the small hairs light-coloured especially at their extremity. 

 Head rather large, dirty yellow, speckled with brown. Dorsal line fine, very light duU yellow, hardly distinct, 

 in some specimens very finely bordered with blackish, crossed by three rather distinct dirty yellow spots. 

 On the S"" abdominal there is a black V-shaped mark, the point directed cephalad and followed by two black 

 dots on each side of the dorsal line. It five's on cypress, hibernates, and pupates at the begimiing of June. 

 The perfect insect emerges at the end of June. Dedicated to Dr. Coulon (of Monaco)". 



Pt. nigrolineata Chr4t. {as "^ Acidalia), "Expanse 10 mm. Forewing prolonged and rounded at the niffrolineata. 

 apex; distal margin oblique, nearly straight; posterior angle a little prominent, sharp; yellowish white, slightly 

 ochraceous, sprinkled with blackish brown scales; costa yellowish brown; lines rather thick, black: the first 

 commencing at the costa at Ys) forming a pronounced angle in the disc, descending almost perpendicularly 

 on the inner margin; the second, commencing a little beyond Vg, forms an acute angle at the 3'''^ radial and 

 P' median, is retracted behind the median and descends almost perpendicularly on the inner margin, which 

 it reaches at little beyond %; the median shade, arising from a large costal spot, nearly at mid costa, 

 approaches the second line, joining it on the 2"^^ median; subterminal line light, between brown shades; 



