ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 37 



the conspicuously coloured abdomen is exposed by the partly unfolded and alternately 

 depressed and raised wings, either as an aposematic signal, or a Batesian deception 

 if the species of Himerarctia are palatable to predators. 



Four species are included in this genus: two new species, laeta and viridisignata, 

 docis (transferred from Automolis) and griseipennis (transferred from Prumala). 



The distribution of Himerarctia includes French Guiana, Guyana, Colombia, 

 Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. 



Nothing is known about the early stages. 



Key to Species 



1 Iridescent markings on abdomen pale green and bluish green. . viridisignata (p. 39) 



- Iridescent markings on abdomen blue and greenish blue ..... 2 



2 Upper surface of forewing without orange or reddish orange markings, but with pale 



brown postmedial band parallel to outer margin of wing . . griseipennis (p. 40) 



- Upper surface of forewing usually with or without orange or reddish orange markings; 



without pale brown postmedial band ........ 3 



3 Upper surface of forewing either entirely brown, or brown with narrow orange or 



reddish orange band ......... docis (p. 37) 



- Upper surface of forewing mostly orange or reddish orange . . laeta (p. 39) 



Himerarctia docis (Hiibner) comb. n. 

 (Text-figs 7, 8; PI. 13, figs 78-83; PI. 14, figs 84-88) 



Automolis docis Hiibner, [1831c], 3 : 32, figs 537, 538. Type(s), French Guiana, 'Cayenne' 



(probably lost). 

 Automolis basalis Walker, 1856 : 1635. LECTOTYPE 2, Brazil (UM, Oxford), here designated 



[examined]. [Synonymized with docis by Hampson, 1901 : 51.] 

 Automolis docis Hiibner; Strand, 1919 : 17. 

 Automolis docis Hiibner; Seitz, 1922 : 372, pi. 51 f. 

 Automolis docis ab. tenebrata Seitz, 1922 : 372. 



(£. Palp dark brown. Front of head dark brown dorsally, iridescent blue and greenish 

 blue ventrally; vertex dark brown with pair of iridescent blue and greenish blue patches 

 posterior to antennae. Antennae dark brown. Patagia dark brown with iridescent blue and 

 greenish blue patch anterolaterally and oblique reddish orange band extending from medial 

 margin to posterior margin of each patagium. Tegulae dark brown with oblique reddish orange 

 band; rest of dorsal surface of thorax dark brown anteriorly (with iridescent blue and greenish 

 blue medial patch), followed posteriorly by transverse band of reddish orange and iridescent 

 blue and greenish blue at posterior margin. Ventral and lateral surfaces of thorax dark brown. 

 Foreleg dark brown, becoming pale yellow at distal end of tarsus; front surface of coxa and 

 outer surface of femur iridescent blue and greenish blue. Midleg similar to foreleg except that 

 tarsus is almost completely pale yellow; hindleg as midleg but with line of iridescent blue and 

 greenish blue scales along outer surface of femur. Upper surface of forewing dark brown or 

 yellowish brown, usually with arcuate, reddish orange band extending from outer margin to 

 near base of anal margin and with short band of same colour connecting arcuate band with 

 costal margin of wing. Upper surface of hindwing dark brown or yellowish brown, except 

 for cell which is orange or reddish orange becoming more yellowish proximally, or with whole 

 of basal half of wing orange. Under surface of forewing similar to upper surface but with 

 lighter brown outer marginal band and often with orange band absent or nearly so. Under 

 surface of hindwing as for upper surface but coloration of cell more reddish, costal area darker 

 brown and anal area orange. Dorsal surface of abdominal segments 1 and 2 reddish orange, 



