92 A. WATSON 



Rhipha uniformis (Rothschild) comb. n. 



Automolis uniformis Rothschild, 1910a : 42, pi. 6, fig. 26. Holotype <£, Surinam: Maroewym 



Valley, Aroewarwa Creek, iv.1905 (Klages) (BMNH) [examined]. 

 Automolis uniformis Rothschild; Strand, 1919 : 26. 

 Automolis uniformis Rothschild; Hampson, 1920 : 172. 

 Automolis uniformis Rothschild; Seitz, 1921 : 372, pi. 51I1 [dorsal surface of patagia should be 



brownish grey, not yellow]. 

 Automolis uniformis ab. mesoleuca Seitz, 1921 : 372, pi. 51I1 [dorsal surface of patagia should 



be brownish grey, not yellow]. Type(s), Bolivia: Rio Songo, 750 m (Fassl) (1 § syntype in 



BMNH) [examined]. 



This is one of the few species at present placed in Rhipha which is probably 

 conspecific with its type-species. 



Rhipha vivia nom. n. 



Automolis spitzi Rothschild, 1937 : 144. LECTOTYPE <§, Brazil: Amazonas, 'Goyaz'. 

 Leopoldo dul Bulhoes, iii.1936 {Spitz) (BMNH), here designated [examined]. A junior 

 primary homonym of Automolis spitzi Rothschild, 1935 : 2 4 x - Here replaced by vivia 

 nom. n. 



Placed in Rhipha for the reason given under Rhipha fulminans. 



SCAPTIUS Walker 



Scaptius Walker, 1855 : 642. Type-species: Scaptius ditissimus Walker, 1855 : 643, by 



monotypy. 

 [Automolis Hiibner sensu Hampson, 1901 : 39, et auctorum. Partim.] 

 Scaptius Walker; Travassos, 1943 : 456, 457. [Re-establishment of genus.] 

 Scaptius Walker; Watson, 197 1 : 7, 23, 65, 84. [Types of 3 species illustrated.] 



Nine nominal species are here transferred from Automolis to Scaptius. 



Two species, vinasia Schaus and obscurata Schaus [then placed in Automolis], 

 were studied by Blest (1964); the former species from only two specimens. In 

 response to handling, the latter exhibited either 'reflex immobilization' or the display 

 in which the wings are alternately raised and lowered and the abdomen raised, and 

 had a low threshold for sound production. It was apparently palatable to laboratory 

 'predators' (Cebus monkeys and fowl) . If this cryptically pattered species is generally 

 palatable to natural predators, its active form of display can be considered a 

 Batesian mimetic copy of unpalatable species of genera such as Ormetica and 

 Viviennea in which the same type of display occurs. 



Scaptius asteroides (Schaus) comb. n. 



Automolis asteroides Schaus, 1905 : 214. Holotype <J, French Guiana: St Laurent, Maroni 



River (USNM) [examined]. 

 Automolis asteroides Schaus; Strand, 1919 : 15. 

 Automolis asteroides Schaus; Hampson, 1920 : 133, fig. 59 (head; venation, pattern, androconial 



areas). 



