577 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



A. G. BTJTLER, 



The only Lepidopterous insect wortty of special notice is a species 

 of Moth of the family Lithosiidse ; this moth is very distinct from 

 any species of the genus hitherto described, being unusually free 

 from the beautiful spotting peculiar to the group. 



Deiopeia lactea. 



Primaries above cream-coloured, in the female with two black 

 dots, one above the other, upon the discocellular veinlet ; a marginal 

 series of black spots, the largest of which is placed at the apex ; a 

 grejdsh indication of an irregular discal belt seen through the wing. 

 Secondaries pure pearly snow-white, the apex broadly black from 

 costal margin to third median branch, with a conical white spot at 

 the apex ; two smaU depressed black marginal spots upon the median 

 interspaces; an extremely slender sordid brownish marginal line 

 between the black spots and the anal angle. Thorax eream-coloured, 

 with the usual black dots — that is to say, two on tjie collar and two 

 on each tegula ; a spot of pale ochreous on each shoulder. Abdomen 

 pure white. Under surface pure white : the primaries slightly tinted 

 with cream-colour, strongly so on the costal border ; a more or less 

 interrupted, externally irregularly dentated black band across the 

 disk, commencing upon the subcostal vein, and terminating in a 

 more or less distinct furca near the external angle ; a more or less 

 complete marginal series of black spots as above, and, in the female, 

 a black angulated bar across the end of the cell upon the disco- 

 cellular veinlet; two or three obliquely-placed rose-red subapical 

 spots : secondaries with a black spot at apex, an irregular black 

 subapical oblique band, and from one to four marginal spots. Pectus 

 slightly cream-tinted, with one or two minute lateral black dots. 

 Proboscis pale ochreous. Anterior tibiae and tarsi fuliginous grey 

 in front. Venter with, pale ochre-tinted anal segment ; female with 

 a blackish spot On each side of the opening. Expanse of wings 

 37 miUim. 



One pair. Providence Island (Mascarenes), Apr^l 1882. 



The entire absence of the usual scarlet markings from the upper 

 surface of the wings in this species renders it conspicuously distinct 

 from every Deiopeia hitherto described ; it bears more resemblance 

 to pale examples of . D. pwa (from Guatemala) than to any other 



species. 



2p 



