ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 33 



except for sparsely scaled basal area; ventrally as for dorsal surface but slightly paler. 

 Abdominal segment 1, 2 and 7 weakly iridescent dark brown and dark blue; 3-6 similar in 

 colour medially, but with broad, lateral band of yellow (incomplete on 4 which has dark medial 

 coloration continued across anterior margin of segment) ; ventral surface of abdomen yellow 

 in broad medial band on segments 2-7, otherwise weakly iridescent dark brown and dark blue. 



Forewing length: holotype <$ 18-0 mm; <$ 18-0-19-5 mm. 



(J genitalia. Apex of uncus simple, dorsal surface weakly carinate distally, somewhat 

 globose and weakly sulcate at base; apex of valve tapered, inner surface of distal part of valve 

 concave; aedeagus without apical spine, outer (posterior) surface of vesica scobinate except for 

 small lobe arising on side nearest caecum penis. 



$. Not known. 



Possibly most closely allied to rothschildi, but distinguished by the darker colora- 

 tion of the thorax, wings and abdomen, the more yellowish oblique band on the 

 forewing (this band usually somewhat tapered towards anal margin), the white 

 patch on the hindwing and by the genitalia. 



Apart from the Brazilian material listed below, there are two males from French 

 Guiana in the BMNH collection and one in the USNM which differ from the holotype 

 of klagesi in that the forecoxa has no yellow band along its inner surface, the front 

 of the head is not edged laterally with greyish yellow, and the apex of the valve is 

 acuminate. These three specimens may represent a new species. 



Material examined. 



Automolis klagesi Rothschild, holotype <$, Brazil: Amazonas, Fonte Boa, v. 1906 

 {Klages) (BMNH). 



Brazil: i (J, Amazonas, Codajas, iv.1907 (Klages); 7 £, Para, iii-v.1926 [2 ex.] (Moss) 

 (USNM: 1 <J). 



MELANARCTIA gen. n. [Gender: feminine] 

 [Automolis Hiibner sensu auct. Partim.] 



Type-species: Automolis ockendeni Rothschild, 1910a : 40. 



<$. Palp extending dorsally nearly to level of antennal base. Head without tufts or processes. 

 Antennae bipectinate, each pectination with terminal seta equal in length to about one-third 

 length of pectination. Tymbal organ well developed. Forewing broad distally, the distance 

 between apex and anal angle greater than distance between wing-base and anal angle; venation 

 as in figure; sparsely scaled area present posterior to cell on undersurface. Hind wing much 

 produced costally, densely covered with grey scales; venation as in text-figure; upper surface 

 with circular or ovate androconial patch near distal end of cell; under surface with adroconial 

 patch and hair-pencil protected by anal fold (see text-figure and plate). Fore-tibia with 

 epiphysis, mid-tibia with single pair of spurs, hind-tibia with two pairs of spurs. 



(J genitalia. Saccus shallow; valves broad, well sclerotized, tapered apically; juxta asym- 

 metric with posteriorly directed process on either side; tegumen massive, produced laterally 

 and ventrally to form incomplete tube around anus; uncus small, tapered, carinate laterally; 

 vesica of aedeagus with several lobes, partly scobinate, with single group of large, thorn-like 

 spines; eighth abdominal tergite with short, tapered apodemes; eighth sternite with shorter, 

 rounded apodemes. 



5. Not known. 



