2 54 



H. STEMPFFER 



as those of exilis, but the central dorsal process is more developed and is shaped like 

 a wide blade with a scarcely denticulate distal edge ; the lateral processes of the 

 tegumen are thinner and bear at their apices two long rigid bristles ; besides these 

 the posterior edge of the tegumen bears two more short processes, strongly recurved 

 and with apices divided into sharp-pointed teeth ; the valves are pear-shaped ; 

 the penis is of the same shape as that of exilis. 



I have also examined the male genitalia of B. pseudofea (= isopthalma Herrich 

 Schaffer) and found it to be of the same type as in the two species mentioned above. 

 This uniformity of structure shows the close relationship of these three species, 

 whose venations are identical and whose external appearances are alike. 



The geographical distribution of the genus Brephidium covers S. Africa (Cape of 

 Good Hope, Natal and Delagoa Bay), the Sonoran region (Florida, Louisiana, New 

 Mexico, Texas and California) and the northern part of the neotropical region 

 (Mexico, West Indies, Central America and Venezuela). It is almost certain that 

 this is a very ancient genus judging by the archaic structure of its male genitalia, 

 e.g. the presence of rigid bristles and the beak-like apex of the penis, structures 

 which elsewhere are only found in species of the genus Zizula, a genus also spread 

 over the Old World and S. America. 



List of Species of Brephidium 

 *Brephidium metophis (Wallengren), i860. Fig. Trimen, 1906. 



Genus ORAIDIUM Bethune Baker 



Oraidium Bethune Baker, 1914, Trans, ent. Soc. Lond. 47 : 330 ; Swanepoel, 1953 : 80. 



species : Lycaena barberae Trimen, bv original designation. 

 Cupido Schrank (partim) ; Aurivillius, 1898 : 369 ; 1925 : 474. 

 Lycaena Fabricius (partim) ; Murray, 1935 : 163. 



Type- 



Fig. 219. Brephidium metophis (Wallengren), o* genitalia. 



