lit PANTHEA; MOMA; CANNA. By W. Wabhbn. 



It should by noted that, while the Acronictinae and THfidinae are more abundant in the temperate 

 regions, the Plusiinae and Hypeninae predominate in the tropics. 



Many Xoctuids are remarkable for the organs of stridulation or scent found in the dV. The often 

 very striking structures are most strongly developed in tropical species. The scent-organs consist of ex- 

 pansible hair-tufts of various shapes, occurring on the legs and antennae, or on the wings, the thorax or 

 abdomen. The organs of stridulation are less frequent, and still less often is it known, what kind of sound 

 the cf produces therewith. The} - consist of non-scaled, transversely ribbed places on the wings. 



Subfamily: Acronictinae. 



Forewing elongate; head, thorax, and pectus usually densely haired. Antenna in a few cases bipectinate 

 in the o 71 ; usually nearly simple. 



Separated from the rest of the Noctuidae by having larvae more or less hairy, feeding exposed, and 

 pupating in a cocoon above ground. 



In neuration the Acronictinae cannot be called a homogeneous group; in fact all the different variations, 

 which occur in the rest of the Noctuidae possessing non hairy larvae, are found among them; vein 5 of the hind- 

 wing being sometimes strong and complete, or again weak and obsolescent, or intermediate between the two. 



The ground-colour, in the large majority of the species, is grey darkened with fuscous and black; in some 

 green or greenishwhite ; others again are fawn-brown or reddish ; and a few white or ochreous. The grey species, 

 which form the large genus Acronicta, are characterised by black dagger-shaped marks on the folds along the course 

 of the inner and outer lines ; the green species are marked by black irregularly zigzag cross-lines or brown bands ; 

 the fawn coloured species are crossed by white zigzag lines; and the paler forms have narrower, more pointed, 

 wings, without transverse lines and markings, but with darker streaks between theveins. . 



A. Forewings whitish, with transverse dark markings. 



1. Genus: Panthea Hbn. 



Antennae bipectinate in d"; head, thorax, and pectus hairy; palpi short, the terminal segment 

 hidden; tongue slight; eyes hairy: abdomen without crests; vein 5 of hindwing curved at base, from lower 

 third of discocellular. 



coenobita. P. coenobita Esp. (2a). Forewing whitish, crossed by thick black zigzag lines; hindwing grey; 



head and thorax white with black spots; abdomen black. — Flies in May, in firwoods of Central Europe, 

 but nowhere common. Larva hairy, dark blue, with the segmental rings reddish, the 4. and penultimate 

 segments of dorsum with long tufts of hair; fullfed in autumn, on Fir and Pine. 



2. Genus: Ifloma Hon. 



Differs from Panthea, in the antennae of cf being simple ; palpi short, with terminal segment rounded. 



ludifica. M. ludifica L. (2a). Forewing cream-colour crossed by broken zigzag black lines; hindwing with 



inner margin yellow; the rest white in d" with blackveins, blackish in ?; abdomen yellow, with black bars. — 

 The perfect insect flies in May, in mountainous districts of Central Europe. Larva blue-grey, with three 

 orange dorsal lines; a white dorsal blotch behind 3. segment and another on anal segment: a lleshy 

 protuberance on 11. segment, bearing hairs; fullfed in autumn, on Sorbus. 



champa. M. champa Moore (2a). Differs from ludifica in the forewing being flushed with rosy; hindwing 



in ? with only the apex dark. — Ammiand; India. 



B. Forewings green. 



3. Genus: Canna Walk. 



The typical species is C. prasinaria from India. Antennae of d* simple; head, thorax, and pectus 

 hairy; metathorax crested; palpi projecting beyond frons, hairy, the last segment small; tongue well 

 developed ; eyes naked ; abdomen with large central crest ; vein 5 of hindwing curved at base from lower 

 third of discocellular. 



malachitis. C. malachitis Oberth. (2b). Forewing glossy green, with base and outcurved central band brown; 



pale spaces at apex and anal angle, each with a dark ringlet ; hindwing glossy white ; thorax and abdomen 

 green, the tufts blackish. — Amurland; West China. The species is closely allied to C. splendens Moore 

 from India, but certainly not identical, the course of central band and shape of basal green area are both different. 



