ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 47 



Selenarctia elissoides (Rothschild) comb. n. 



(PL 20, figs 118-121) 



Automolis elissoides Rothschild, 1910& : 270. LECTOTYPE $, Venezuela (BMNH), here 



designated [examined]. 

 Automolis elissoides Rothschild; Hampson, 1920 : 161. [Fig. of head & venation.] 

 Automolis elissoides Rothschild; Seitz, 1921 : 368. 

 Automolis elissoides Rothschild; Blest, 1964. [Mimicry and protective display.] 



(J. Apical segment of palp black; second segment either entirely black (one specimen 

 from Trinidad), or black dorsally and orange-yellow ventrally (type and most specimens); 

 basal segment black dorsally, orange-yellow ventrally. Head deep orange, becoming paler 

 at posterior margin. Antenna serrate, black except for orange scape; each segment with 

 numerous setae. Patagia, tegulae and rest of dorsal surface of thorax yellowish white. Ventral 

 surface of thorax deep orange near head, otherwise orange. Fore-coxa deep orange; trochanter 

 orange; femur dark brown except for area of orange on outer surface at proximal end and band 

 of yellowish white along inner surface; fore-tibia and tarsus dark brown. Coxa and trochanter 

 of midleg orange; femur yellowish white, with area of dark brown at distal end extended as 

 tapering band half-way along femur on inner surface; tibia and tarsus dark brown, with some 

 yellowish white scales on outer surface of tibia (except in one specimen from Trinidad) ; hindleg 

 as midleg. Wings yellowish white; outer margin of hind wing concave. Dorsal surface of 

 abdominal segments 1-4 orange laterally, with small, dark brown spot anteriorly on 2-4, dark 

 brown (nearly black) medially with weak dark blue iridescence; 5-8 orange, with dark brown, 

 medial patch and lateral patch anteriorly on each segment ; ventral surface of abdomen orange, 

 with yellowish white tuft arising from lateral surface of each valve. 



$. As <$ but outer margin of hindwing convex, straight or very weakly concave, and last 

 (7th) segment of abdomen dark brown and weakly iridescent bluish green dorsally except for 

 orange posterior fringe. 



Forewing length: lectotype £ 22-5 mm; £ 20-0-24-0 mm; § 27-0—30-5 mm. 



$ genitalia. Valve not incurved towards medial line; length of apical part of uncus about 

 twice breadth, dorsal carina broadest and truncate posteriorly; spinose apical process of 

 aedeagus weakly arcuate, extending beyond lateral edge of aedeagus. 



9j genitalia. Signa well developed; lamella postvaginalis weakly emarginate medially. 



In wing shape and coloration this species closely resembles elissa, but is easily 

 distinguished by the orange, not black, vestiture of the ventral surface of the thorax, 

 and by the male genitalia. Similar differences in the thorax and the yellowish 

 white wing coloration separate elissoides from flavidorsata, although the male 

 genitalia do not differ greatly: elissoides has straighter valves (viewed dorsally or 

 ventrally), a narrower uncus and a longer spinose process at the apex of the aedeagus. 



Known from Guatemala, Belize, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil and Bolivia. 



Material examined. 

 Automolis elissoides Rothschild, lectotype <$, Venezuela: Merida (BMNH). 



Guatemala: i <J, Cayuga; 1^,1$, Cayuga, viii, ix (USNM). Belize: 7 J, Punta Gorda, 

 vii.1933, 1934 (White, Johnson) (USNM: 1 g). Venezuela: i $, Merida (Briceno); 1 <$, 

 Merida (USNM); 1 $, 1 $, Aragua, Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 26.vii.1949, 20. ii. 1967 (Fernandez 

 Y6pez, Salcedo) (UCV) ; 3 $, Aroa (USNM); 1 $, Aragua, El Limon, 450, 28.x. i960 (Fernandez 

 Ydpez) (UCV); 3 <$, Caracas; 1 <$, 7 $, Esteban Valley, Las Quiguas, xi-iii (Klages); 2 $, San 

 Esteban, vi.1909 (Klages); 1 <$, Monagas, Jusepin, 24. ix. 1965 (Fernandez Yepez, Rosales) 

 (UCV). Trinidad: 2 <£, Curepe, 23.x. 1967, x.1968 (Cruttwell) ; 1 9. Caparo, xii.1905 (Klages) 



