4 2 



A. WATSON 



AMPHELARCTIA gen. n. [Gender: feminine] 



[Automolis Hiibner sensu auct. Partim.] 

 Type-species: Automolis priscilla Schaus, 1911 : 183. 



£. Palp extending to about middle of clypeo-f rons ; apical segment minute. Antenna 

 uniserrate, densely setose; distal margin of proximal segments weakly concave ventrally. 

 Head without processes or scale-tufts. Tegulae and patagia longitudinally striped. Meso- 

 thoracic tibia with two pairs of spurs. Tymbal organ present. Wings yellow and brown, 

 without recognizable androconial patches or hair-pencils. 



$. Similar to <J but antennae less strongly serrate and hindwing relatively larger in area. 



^ genitalia. Eighth abdominal tergite and sternite with short apodemes. Saccus small. 

 Juxta not highly modified. Valve very large, flattened, incurved apically; valves not identical 

 to each other; tegumen small; uncus simple, tapered, weakly carinate mid-dorsally ; aedeagus 

 short; vesica partly scobinate. 



9 genitalia. Seventh abdominal sternite well sclerotized and greatly modified: deeply 

 emarginate posteriorly and produced laterally on each side - the resultant processes presumably 

 being engaged by the male valves during copulation. Corpus bursae with pair of scobinate 

 signa. Appendix bursae opening into right posterolateral part of corpus bursae. Ductus 

 seminalis opening into appendix bursae near point of origin of duct between latter and corpus 

 bursae. Ductus bursae short, anterior part sclerotized ventrally. Lamella postvaginalis 

 moderately well developed. Scent tubules opening dorsally at base of each papilla analis; 

 simple, elongate. Anterior and posterior apophyses nearly equal in length. 



There are several features in common between this genus and Ordishia, especially 

 in the coloration and colour-pattern of the thorax. The genitalia of both sexes, 

 however, do not indicate especially close affinities, nor does the extent of the yellow 

 coloration of the forewings. 



Rhipha persimilis (see p. 91) is similar to Amphelarctia priscilla in the colour- 

 pattern of the forewing except for the more proximal placement of the postmedial 

 yellow patch and the presence of a basal dilation of the yellow line on the vestige 

 of Cu 2 on the upper surface of the forewing. Other similarly patterned species 

 are Rhipha luteoplaga, its close ally R. flavoplagiata and Idalus flavopiaga Schaus 

 (1905 : 208). It is probable that all four species are members of mimetic complexes. 

 Blest (1964) had access to only one female and was not able to comment on the 



9 "- ' 10 



Figs 9, 10. Amphelarctia priscilla, <$, venation. 9, forewing; 10, hindwing. 



