34 



A. WATSON 



Melanarctia is possibly most closely allied to Ordishia which it resembles in 

 coloration and in the colour-pattern of the forewings. However, the presence 

 of bipectinate antennae (at least in the $), the forewing shape and the absence of 

 any yellow coloration on the abdomen at once separate the genera. In the male 

 genitalia, the highly modified tegumen and juxta of Melanarctia are also diagnostic. 



Some species of Epidesma Hubner and Loxozona Hampson and a few other 

 genera of Ctenuchidae closely resemble Melanarctia in colour-pattern but differ 

 in genitalic and other characters and are clearly not closely related to the latter. 

 It is probable that at least some of these species may be partners in Mullerian 

 complexes. There are other superficially similar species in the Agaristidae, especially 

 in the genera Phasidia Hampson and Rhosus, and in the Dioptidae (Josia Hubner 

 and Actea Walker). 



Melanarctia is known from two species, both of which have been transferred 

 from Automolis. 



Nothing is known about the early stages of either species. 



Key to Species 



i Length of orange-yellow fascia on forewing equal to about twice its width lativitta (p. 35) 

 — Length of orange-yellow fascia on forewing equal to or greater than three times its 



width ........... ockendeni (p. 34) 



Melanarctia ockendeni (Rothschild) comb. n. 

 (Text-figs 5, 6; PL 11, figs 67-69) 



Automolis ockendeni Rothschild, 1910a : 40, pi. 5, fig. 4 [in colour]. LECTOTYPE <J, Peru 



(BMNH), here designated [examined]. 

 Automolis occendeni Hampson, 1920 : 135. [Unjustified emendation.] 

 Automolis ockendeni Rothschild; Seitz, 1922 : 375. 



(J. Palp dark brown, with yellowish white patch on outer surface of basal segment (at distal 

 end) and near distal end of outer surface of second segment. Clypeo-frons and vertex dark 

 brown. Antenna bipectinate; dark brown. Thorax dark brown, darkest dorsally. Tymbal 

 organ with about 45 microtymbals. Legs dark brown; more yellowish than thorax. Upper 

 surface of forewing dark brown with oblique orange-yellow postmedial fascia; outer marginal 

 fringe brown, paler than rest of wing. Upper surface of hindwing mostly dark brown, but 

 sparsely scaled basally and in cell; yellowish brown, circular androconial patch present at 

 distal end of cell. Under surface of forewing similar to upper surface, but paler, especially 

 at base and anally, and with unsealed area between cell and vestige of Cu 2 ; hindwing dark 

 brown, with sparsely scaled area immediately posterior to cell. Dorsal surface of abdomen 

 weakly iridescent dark brown and dark blue; ventral surface dark yellowish brown. 



Forewing length: lectotype $ 19-0 mm; paralectotype £ iyo— 18-0 mm. 



$ genitalia. Differ from those of lativitta apparently only in the smaller number of thorn- 

 like spines on the vesica of the aedeagus. 



9. Not known. 



This species is separable from lativitta by the narrower, orange-yellow fascia on 

 the forewing and by the broader, outer marginal fringe of the forewing (see plate). 



