1984] 
Aiello — Genus Adelpha 
37 
place that species in GROUP I, but I would like to see more 
evidence. In addition, the erotia wing-undersurface pattern does 
not have the sharply stamped appearance typical of GROUP I, 
and it is possible that the butterly was misidentified. 
iphicla iphicleola, Mexico (Comstock & Vazquez, 1960) 
This record was in error; the authors misidentified Doxocopa as 
Adelpha. 
melona, Brasil (Moss, 1933) 
The larval description and illustrations in Moss do not give 
sufficient detail to place this species, although from the pupa it 
belongs in GROUP VII. 
thesprotia, Brasil (Moss, 1933) 
The larval description and illustration in Moss do not give 
sufficient detail to place this species, although I suspect that it 
may represent an eighth group. As well, there is a good deal of 
disagreement concerning the identity of Moss’s thesprotia; 
Forbes (unpublished) believed that Moss actually had nea, a 
species which on the basis of genitalia probably belongs to 
GROUP I. Moss’s statement that the larva rested in a curled 
position (typical of GROUP I), lends support to Forbe’s 
suspicion. However, from what can be seen of the scoli in Moss’s 
illustration, they are all similar in size and form, are not flat, and 
the pupa looks more like those of GROUP VIII. 
Significance of Adult Wing Pattern 
When adult specimens of Adelpha are sorted into the species 
groups just outlined, the result is a jumble of wing pattern types that 
would make any biologist wince, this author included. However, it 
would seem even less natural to split groups that are based upon the 
presumably more conservative characters of the immatures. I prefer 
to think that in Adelpha, wing pattern not only does not reflect 
species relationships, but instead may be intended to deceive. One 
might expect adult wing characters to be the most specialized and 
difficult to interpret; adults move about with ease and interact with 
each other and with other butterfly species, as well as with potential 
predators, while in most cases the immature stages must contend, in 
