ARCTIIDAE AND CTENUCHIDAE FORMERLY IN AUTOMOLIS 49 



Selenarctia pseudelissa (Dognin) comb. n. 

 (PL 2i, figs 127-131) 



Automolis pseudelissa Dognin, 1902 : 232. Lectotype £, Venezuela (USNM), designated by 



Watson, 1971 : 77 [examined]. 

 Automolis pseudolissa Dognin; Hampson, 1920 : 163. [Fig. of head & venation.] 

 Automolis pseudelissa Dognin; Watson, 1971 : 76, pis 30 (type), 127 (genitalia). 



£, 9. Externally as for flavidorsata except for the generally larger size, the presence of a 

 black and weakly iridescent, dark blue, mid-dorsal, longitudinal band on the thorax (this 

 band broad anteriorly, tapered posteriorly), and by the presence of dark brown spots on each 

 side of abdominal sterna 5-8 (J) or 5-6 ($). 



Forewing length: lectotype <$ 24-5 mm; $ 24-5-30-5 mm; $ 31-0-34-0 mm. 



<$ genitalia. Uncus tapered posteriorly, very strongly carinate dorsally and with pointed, 

 falcate apex; apex of valve acuminate and inwardly directed in most specimens (including 

 type) ; aedeagus without apical process. 



$ genitalia. Lamella antevaginalis emarginate medially, lobate laterally; lamella postvaginalis 

 with V-shaped posterior margin, lobate laterally. 



Most like schausi externally, but separable by the absence of patagial markings 

 and the presence of a dark, posteriorly tapered, medial band on the thorax 

 (contrasting with a circular or ovoid patch in schausi) . Similarities in the genitalia 

 add weight to the possibility that schausi is its closest ally. Dognin's statement 

 (1902 : 232) that pseudelissa differs from elissa in that the ventral surface of the 

 thorax is black in pseudelissa but orange in elissa is incorrect: in fact, elissa does 

 not differ from pseudelissa in this respect. Both elissa and elissoides are smaller, 

 paler species neither of which possess any black markings on the dorsal surface of 

 the thorax. 



Known from Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia. 



Material examined. 

 Automolis pseudolissa Dognin, lectotype <$, Venezuela: Merida (USNM). 



Costa Rica: i §, Sitio, hi. (USNM). Colombia: 6 $, 1 §, Rio Negro, 8000 m (Fassl); i<$, 

 Pacho, 2200 (Fassl); 1 §, Rio Inambari, La Oroya, 3100ft, ix.1904 (Ockenden). Venezuela: 

 2 6*> 3 $• Merida (USNM) [including 1 g & 1 $ paralectotypes of pseudolissa]; 12 g, 2 5, Merida 

 (Briceno); 1 <§, Trujillo, Bocon6, 1200m, 13.viii.1964 (Osuna, Gelbes) (UCV); 1 <$, 1900; 1 <j>. 

 1901 (USNM). Peru: 33 g, 2 $, Carabaya, Santo Domingo, 6000-6500 ft, xi.1901, ii.-xii.1902, 

 x.1903, ix.1904 (Ockenden) (LACM: 1 $); 7 <J, 1 $, Carabaya (USNM). Bolivia: 4 <£, Rio 

 Songo, 750-800 m (Fassl) (USNM: 2 <$). 



Selenarctia schausi (Rothschild) comb. n. 

 (PL 22, figs 132-136) 



Automolis schausi Rothschild, 1916 : 266. LECTOTYPE §, Costa Rica (BMNH), here 



designated [examined], 

 Automolis schausi Rothschild; Hampson, 1920 : 161. [Fig. in colour.] 



O*. Apical segment of palp black; second segment black with a few yellow scales near base 

 in one specimen; basal segment deep orange ventrally, black dorsally. Head deep orange; 

 both vertex and front with black, medial spot. Scape of antenna orange, remainder black. 



