82 A. WATSON 



Ormetica was re-established by Watson (1971) to accommodate a fairly homo- 

 genous group of yellow, dark brown and iridescent blue moths. There seems to be 

 no justification for the synonymy of Ormetica with Rhipha by Travassos (1943 : 457), 

 the type-species of which [Rhipha strigata Walker) is a distinctively marked, mostly 

 black and white species. Another 27 nominal species and two subspecies are 

 transferred here from Automolis to Ormetica. 



Four species of Ormetica were studied by Blest (1964): pauperis Schaus, sicilia 

 Druce, metallica and taeniata Guerin-Meneville. In response to handling, each of 

 them responded with the type of display in which the wings are alternately raised 

 and lowered and the abdomen raised, and except for pauperis, had a high or very 

 high threshold for sound production. All were rejected as food either by fowl or 

 Cebus monkeys. 



The males of most of the Ormetica species available for study in the BMNH have 

 an androconial zone interacting with hair-scales in a pouch formed by the folded 

 anal area on the under surface of the hind wing. Only chrysomelas, pallidifascia 

 and pauperis were found to lack this scent distributing organ, although it may 

 also be lacking in the species pretiosa Schaus and valera Schaus which are not repre- 

 sented in the collection but are probably closely allied to chrysomelas. 



Ormetica abdalsan (Schaus) comb. n. 



Automolis abdalsan Schaus, 1920 : 116. Holotype $, Guatemala: Cayuga, x (USNM) 



[examined] . 

 Automolis abdalsan Schaus; Watson, 1971 : 8, pis 27a (type), 122c, d (genitalia). 



Ormetica albimaculijera (Hampson) comb. n. 



Automolis albimaculijera Hampson, 1901 : 54, pi. 36, fig. 18. Holotype £, Brazil: Amazonas, 



Manicore (BMNH) [examined]. 

 Automolis albimaculijera Hampson; Strand, 1919 : 14. 

 Automolis albimaculijera Hampson; Seitz, 1921 : 367, pi. 50g. 



Ormetica chrysomelas (Walker) comb. n. 



Automolis chrysomelas Walker, 1856 : 1636. LECTOTYPE $, Brazil (UM, Oxford), here 



designated [examined]. 

 Eucyrta geometrica Felder, 1874 : Heft 4, explanation to pis 75-107, pi. 102, fig. 6. LECTOTYPE 



<3\ French Guiana (BMNH), here designated [examined]. 

 Euplesia chrysomelas (Walker) Kirby, 1892 : 168. 



Automolis chrysomelas Walker; Hampson, 1901 : 53. [Synonymy of geometrica Felder.] 

 Automolis chrysomelas Walker; Strand, 1919 : 15. 

 Automolis chrysomelas Walker; Seitz, 1921 : 367, pi. 5of [distal yellow marking should be much 



closer to costal margin of wing]. 

 Automolis chrysomelas i. interrupta Reich, 1937 : 70. Syntypes 2 <3\ Brazil: Joinville and 



New Bremen (Reich coll.: Israel) [not examined]. [An infra-subspecific name.] 

 Automolis chrysomelas f. interrupta Reich; Reich, 1938a : fig. 5. 

 Automolis chrysomelas f. interrupta Reich; Reich, 19386 : 205. 



