6 D. S. FLETCHER 



Female genitalia. Ovipositor long and retractile, greater in length than the distance from the 

 ostium to the anterior tip of the bursa copulatrix. Sterigma sclerotized, specifically diagnostic 

 in form. Bursa copulatrix sometimes wholly membranous, sometimes sclerotized and ribbed 

 anteriorly ; stellate or disc-like signum present in all species with two pairs of pectinations on 

 each segment of male antenna, absent from all African species, present or absent in remaining 

 species. 



Taxonomic history. 



The genus Cleora is richly represented in the tropical regions of the Old World 

 and its range extends into the temperate region of both the Old and New Worlds, 

 being represented in North America by the two species C. sublunaria (Guenee) and 

 C. projectaria (Walker). 



Hitherto, on the grounds of convenience, Cleora has been treated taxonomically 

 in a variety of ways. Interpreted strictly, the genus has included only those species 

 in which the male antenna bears two pairs of pectinations on each pectinate segment, 

 one pair very long and densely ciliate, the other shorter and simple, and in which the 

 female antenna is simple. 



Carecomotis, occurring in the tropical parts of the Oriental region and in the 

 Australian and Pacific regions, included 29 known species and was separated from 

 Cleora on the basis of the antennae; the pectinate segments of the male antenna 

 each bearing one pair of long, densely ciliate pectinations arising from the anterior 

 edge of the segment, the female antenna bearing one pair of similar, but shorter 

 pectinations. In both Cleora and Carecomotis the male genitalia conform to a 

 similar basic pattern, a well developed but simple and tapered uncus, a well 

 developed gnathus with a scobinate medial plate, a weak juxta, the valve with a well 

 defined but weakly sclerotized dorsal area, a lobe-shaped cucullus without processes 

 and a well developed and sclerotized sacculus displaying specifically diagnostic 

 characters; the aedeagus is usually at least twice as long as broad, usually with one 

 or more cornuti adorning the vesica. The female genitalia bear a well developed 

 and specifically diagnostic sterigma and usually a clearly defined colliculum ; the 

 posterior part of the bursa copulatrix is usually ribbed and sclerotized and the 

 remainder is membranous, with or without a signum ; when present the signum is 

 disc-like or stellate. 



The Ethiopian representatives of Cleora were separated by Janse (1932 : 266) 

 on the basis of the antennae, which in the male bear only one pair of long, densely 

 ciliate pectinations on each pectinate segment and in the female are simple, and 

 were placed in the genus Neocleora which he erected for them. Subsequent examina- 

 tion of the female genitalia of these Ethiopian species has shewn them to lack a 

 signum on the bursa copulatrix. The neuration, male genitalia and habitus of 

 both sexes are, however, closely similar in general pattern to those species that were 

 included separately in Cleora and Carecomotis. 



Whilst the groups of species that were included separately in Cleora, Carecomotis 

 and Neocleora each display certain well defined characters in one sex only and each 

 group has evidently speciated extensively, the more satisfactory treatment groups 

 all these species in one genus under the oldest available name, Cleora. 



The North American species of Cleora were re-described and illustrated by 



