ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 41 



Automolis griseipennis Rothschild; Strand, 1919 : 19. 

 Prumala griseipennis (Rothschild) Hampson, 1920 : 33. 

 Prumala griseipennis (Rothschild); Seitz, 1922 : 345. 



cJ. Palps, antennae and vertex yellowish brown; front yellowish brown dorsally, iridescent 

 blue and greenish blue ventrally. Dorsal surface of thorax yellowish brown, except for iridescent 

 blue and greenish blue anterolateral patch on each tegula and pair of similar patches at posterior 

 margin of thorax; ventral and pleural surfaces darker brown than dorsal surface and with some 

 iridescent blue and greenish blue scales laterally. Legs as laeta (q.v.) but brown coloration 

 more yellowish and mid and hind tarsi pale yellow except for basal yellowish brown two-thirds. 

 Upper surface of forewing yellowish brown, with single pale greyish yellow, postmedial fascia ; the 

 latter arcuate and quite well defined proximally, diffuse distally, extending anteriorly to apex 

 and posteriorly to anal angle of wing; hindwing yellowish brown, with whole or most of cell 

 light yellow in most specimens (including lectotype). Under surface of forewing yellowish 

 brown, with weakly marked lighter brown postmedial and terminal fasciae; hindwing as 

 upper surface but cell either orange-yellow (lectotype) or orange in those specimens where 

 upper surface of cell is yellow and anal area orange-yellow. Dorsal surface of abdominal 

 segments 1-4 orange-yellow (lectotype), orange or orange-red medially, dark brown laterally 

 with iridescent blue and greenish blue patch posteriorly on each side of 3 and 4; 5-7 dark 

 brown with medial and lateral patches of iridescent blue and greenish blue; segment 8 yellowish 

 brown, with darker brown posterior fringe and small medial and lateral iridescent blue and 

 greenish blue spots; ventral surface of segment 2 dark brown, with orange (lectotype) or reddish 

 orange posteromedially and iridescent blue and greenish blue laterally; 3-6 orange (lectotype) 

 or reddish orange with iridescent blue and greenish blue laterally; 7 orange (lectotype) or 

 reddish orange medially, dark brown laterally with iridescent blue and greenish blue lateral 

 spot; segment 8 dark brown with iridescent blue and greenish blue spot anterolaterally on each 

 side. 



§. As <$ but forewing fascia less well marked on upper surface and absent on under surface; 

 hindwing without yellow cell markings on either surface. 



Forewing length: lectotype £ 20-0 mm; $ 19-0-22-0 mm; $ 24-0-27-0 mm. 



£ genitalia. Similar in general structure to those of docis but differs in shape of juxta, 

 valve, uncus and vesica. 



5 genitalia. Similar to those of docis but ductus bursae larger. 



Separable from the three other species of Himerarctia by the presence on the 

 forewing of a pale greyish yellow, postmedial fascia, the absence of orange or reddish 

 orange markings on the thorax and by the <$ genitalia. 



There is some quite striking variation in the coloration of the abdomen which 

 may be either yellowish orange or reddish orange. 



Known from Brazil (Amazonas state), Colombia and Peru. 



Material examined. 



Automolis griseipennis Rothschild, lectotype <$, Brazil: Amazonas, Fonte Boa, 

 v.1906 {Klages) (BMNH). 



Brazil: 5 (J, 2 $?, Amazonas, Fonte Boa, v-vii.1906 {Klages) (paralectotypes of A . griseipennis 

 Rothschild). Colombia: 4^, Villavicencio, 400 m (Fassl). Peru: i g, Pebas, 1880 (Matfian); 

 1 $, Tarapoto, v-viii.1886 (Mathan); 1 $, 'La Union, R. Huacamayo, Carabaya', 2000 ft, 

 xi.1904 (Ockenden). 



