CIDARIA. By L. B. Prout. 219 



C. praefecta sp. nov. Much larger than variata (43 mm., lenglh of a forewiiig 20 mm), the coloration praefecta. 

 of the forewing more as in a rather washed-out corylata, the basal and median bands being fuscous (but mixed 

 with whitish), the intermediate and distal areas greenish, by reason of an admixture of yellow and fuscous 

 scales; median area shaped nearly as in some corylata, almost interrupted at the fold, but with the section 

 between the fold and the submedian vein angularly produced both proximally and distally; tiie dark lines 

 which bound the median area somewhat thickened and blackened at hindmargin; subterminal lino less strongly 

 dentate than in variata. Hindwing dirty whitish, weakly marked, the postinedian line (which is only distinct 

 beneath) shaped nearly as in corylata. Forewing beneath also pale, slightly more yellowish, anterior half of 

 postmedian line well expressed. Nikko, type (?) in coll. Pijngeler: Yokohama, cotype (?) in coll. Brit. Mus. 

 The cf will perhaps prove to have pectinate antenna as in comis, in which case praefecta must be removed to 

 section B. 



B. cT antenna bipectinate. 



C. firmata Hhn. (^ consobrinata Curt.) (81) is sometimes, though quite unneeessarily, confused with firmata. 

 the brightest reddish forms of oheliscata. Apart from the pectinate cf antenna (2 pairs of rather short, slender 

 pectinations to each segment) the paler, more yellowish-tinged hindwing, pale abdomen with red-brown dorsal 



line, dark subbasal mark along the hindmargin, more deeply angulated antemedian line, more bluish white 

 (or violet-white) subterminal line, usually accompanied by some slight violet-grey shading, and absence of 

 black apical dash all distinguish it. The typical form, which varies very little, inhabits Northern Central 

 Europe, Switzerland and Austria-Hungary. — ulicata Rhr., from S. France, Castile and Lower Austria, has the ulicata. 

 ground-colour predominantly of the pale violet-grey or blue-grey tone and the median band darkened. — The 

 egg hibernates. The larva hatches in the spring but generally feeds up extremely slowly and is some- 

 times not full-fed till the beginning of September. It is easily distinguished from the similar larvae of variata 

 and oheliscata by its red head. On Pinus sylvestris. The moth begins to appear in July or perhaps already 

 in June, but the principal emergence is in August — September. 



C. comis Btlr. (13 e) shows the antennal structure of firmata but the coloration and superficial appearance comis. 

 of variata. From the latter, however, it may be at once distinguished by the rather less strong and differently 

 placed distal projection of the median band; this forms a more rounded, even, double lobe, projecting before 

 and behind the 3'''* radial. There is a dark blotch (usually conspicuous) on the posterior margin of the 

 forewing between the basal patch and the central band. Japan: Oiwake, in October. 



C. consimilis Warr. also agrees with firmata in structure and with, wanato in coloration. The projection consimilis. 

 in the median band is about as strong and irregular as in variata, but perhaps slightly more posteriorly placed; 

 the veins are more or less blackened, especially the 1 =' radial of the forewing in the distal area, thus recalling 

 also cupressata; in this and in the absence of a developed dark blotch on the hindmargin between the basal 

 patch and the median band it differs from the otherwise similar comis. N. W. India and Afghanistan. 



C. dentifascia iJwjJs. (13 e) is of a browner colour than the preceding, with darker median band on the dentifascia. 

 forewing both above and beneath, whiter, more clearly-marked hindwing, bearing a more angulated line and 

 sharper black discal dot, veins of the forewing not blackened, under surface rather recalling that of citrata. 

 N. W. Himalayas. 



C. serraria Z. (= lienigiaria Led., ziczaccata Schoy.) (8 i) probably belongs in this vicinity. It is serraria. 

 anomalous in having the areole usually single, but as it is sometimes double (at least in the ?) it is not 

 necessary to establish a separate section for it. Although variable, it is unmistakable on account of the strongly 

 zigzag markings. In the typical form, which we figure, the central band is completely broken at the 2""^ median 

 vein, sometimes also at the 2"'' submedian. — In ab. continua Strand ihe band is uninterrupted. — ab. albida ^°bida'^"^' 

 Stichel has the median area almost entirely filled up with white, leaving only quite narrow brown edges and 

 the black cell-spot. — In ab. spania Stichel the band is developed in its anterior half only (as in variata ab. spania. 

 stragulata), one or two small brown spots near the hindmargin alone remaining of its posterior part. — I know 

 nothing of the larva; there is a brief note in Russian by Blocker in the Rev. Russe d'Ent. vol. 4, p. 212, but 

 no translation is given, serraria is scarce and local in Scefndinavia, N. Russia and N. E. Siberia, chiefly at 

 high latitudes. — serrataria subsp. nov. is rather broader-winged, the apices thus appearing rounder; forewing serrataria. 

 with basal patch more obliquely edged, thus fully as broad at hindmargin as at costa, the white bands which 

 bound the median area narrow, the subterminal lunules not quite so deep, thus not so closely approaching the 

 distal margin, the distal area not so uniformly darkened, the fringe less sharply chequered; hindwing above 

 unmarked, or with only a weak dark spot close to anal angle. Underside more weakly marked than in serra- 

 ria, the postmedian line of the hindwing fine, rather weak, placed rather further from the distal margin and 

 projecting 2 extremely long teeth basewards, one on each fold. Kasakewitsch, Ussuri district (M. Korb) type 

 (cf) and ? in coll. R. PQngeler. Probably a good species. 



