ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 45 



and abdomen, the lack of markings on the wings, and differences in the genitalia 

 readily distinguish Selenarctia from Viviennea. 



Blest (1964) has shown that elissa and elissoides are probably unpalatable to 

 predators and that like species of Viviennea (p. 11) they react to tactile stimuli 

 by raising the abdomen and alternately raising and lowering the wings. It seems 

 likely that all the species of Selenarctia together with certain species of Viviennea 

 and Ormetica (see Viviennea) constitute a Mullerian partnership of warningly 

 coloured species. 



Five species are known. One is described here as new, the others are transferred 

 from Atitomolis. 



Selenarctia is known from Guatemala, southwards through Central America 

 to Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Peru and 

 Bolivia. 



Nothing is known about the early stages. 



Key to Species 



1 Dorsal surface of thorax with dark brown medial marking ..... 2 

 — Dorsal surface of thorax without markings ........ 3 



2 Medial thoracic marking a longitudinal streak, tapered posteriad; patagia unmarked 



pseudelissa (p. 49) 



Medial thoracic marking ovate; patagia with dark brown medial marking in some 



specimens ........... schausi (p. 49) 



Ventral surface of thorax dark brown except in narrow band behind eyes and near 



base of wings ............ 4 



Ventral surface of thorax orange ...... elissoides (p. 47) 



Forewing yellowish white; genitalia as in PI. 19 . . . . . elissa (p. 45) 



Forewing pale yellow; genitalia as in PI. 20. . . . . flavidorsata (p. 48) 



Selenarctia elissa (Schaus) comb. n. 



(Text-figs 11, 12; PI. 19, figs 111-117) 



Automolis elissa Schaus, 1892 : 277. Lectotype $, Brazil (USNM), designated by Watson 



(1971 : 30) [examined]. 

 Automolis elissa Schaus; Strand, 1919 : 17. 

 Automolis elissa Schaus; Seitz, 1921 : 368, pi. 5oi (£). 

 Automolis elissa Schaus; Blest, 1964. [Mimicry and protective display.] 

 Automolis elissa Schaus; Watson, 1971 : 30, pis 30c (type), 237c (genitalia). 



(J. Palp black, with ventral surface of proximal segment orange and a few orange scales 

 on ventral surface of second segment in most specimens. Head deep orange, with black, 

 medial spot on front in type and in few other specimens. Scape of antenna orange, remainder 

 black. Dorsal surface of thorax yellowish white (2A2) ; ventral surface black (with weak, 

 dark blue iridescence) except for deep orange area bordering head and yellowish white scales 

 bordering base of wings. Forecoxa deep orange; rest of foreleg dark brown. Midleg dark 

 brown with some orange on inner surface of coxa in some specimens and longitudinal band of 

 yellowish white along outer surface of forefemur in some specimens. Hindleg as midleg but 

 j seldom with markings on femur. Wings yellowish white (2A2) ; outer margin of hindwing 



