Publ. 15. X. 1938. 
SCOPULA. By L. B. Prout. 
137 
36. Genus: Scopula Schrank. 
(See Vol. 4, p. 51; Supp.-Vol. 4, p. 33; Vol. 16, p. 61.) 
This very extensive genus is far less well represented in the New World than in the Old; out of some 
550 species yet described less than 100 belong to the former — little more than one-half the number which are 
recorded from Africa alone. Yet the forms are so manifestly indigenous, and representative of so many of the 
groups within the genus, that it is impossible to think of comparatively recent introductions. As has been 
pointed out elsewhere, Scopula is a very natural genus. Antenna of the $ generally ciliated (pectinate represen¬ 
tatives seem to be wanting in the New World), hindtibia of the G with 2 spurs or spurless (in the latter case 
often with hair-pencils and more or less shortened tarsus), in the $ with 4 spurs. Wings without special modi¬ 
fications; areole simple; 2nd subcostal of hindwing not or scarcely stalked with 1st radial, 1st median not stalked. 
The forewing is seldom irregular in shape, the hindwing often crenulate, or with an angle (blunt or acute) at 
the 3rd radial. Genitalia of the $ with the valves fused, the sacculus (ventral arm of valve) more or less strongly 
chitinized, uncus undeveloped. 8th sternite with a plate, terminating in 2 arms (often asymmetrical), termed 
cerata or rami, which are covered by a flap called the mappa. Larva very slender, without protuberances. 
A. Section Pylarge Warr. Hindtibia o f S' with terminal spurs. 
S. neophyta Prout (16 a). Distinguished by the narrow pale wings (the hindwing quite weakly marked), neophyta. 
straightish lines of the forevdng, slender abdomen and long slender hindleg. Bogota. 
S. albidulata Warr. (18 e). Also whitish, but less slender, less narrow-winged, the lines thicker, much albidulata. 
less sharp, curved, ochreous. S. E. Brazil. 
S. timboensis sp. n. (16 a) agrees in external structure with albidulata and may possibly be a remarkable timboensis. 
form of it, but makes the impression of a separate species. In the (slightly) narrower wings and the light brown 
colouring it is somewhat intermediate towards the structurally very distinct mappata (18 b) and this suggestion 
is enhanced by the development of a more deeply-coloured spot at the hindmargin of the forewing. Forewing 
with the postmedian dots strong, the one on the 1st radial standing out quite as in unicornata. Forewing beneath 
strongly suffused in the cell, with cell-dot. postmedian and terminal dots conspicuous, median shade indicated; 
hindwing pale, with only the cell-dot and terminal dots developed. Timbo, 6 May 1934 (H. Koch), a very fresh 
o in the Senckenberg Museum. 
S. ancellata Hulst (16 a). Holst seems to have mixed this species and the following, which he described ancellatu. 
simultaneously, and one of his original localities (Sierra Nevada) belonged really to the latter. The type locality 
is therefore, according to Barnes and Me Dunnough, Arizona, but its range extends to Colorado and even 
into British Columbia and Alberta and the specimen here figured (determined, I believe correctly, by Cf. W. 
Taylor) came from Manitoba. catenes Druce (16 b), from Mexico, seems to be at most a slight modification, catenes. 
perhaps really a synonym, of ancellata. Perhaps not quite so white as typical ancellata , the underside, at least 
of the forewing, somewhat more irrorated. Only the type is known; a whiter specimen from New Mexico seems 
still nearer to ancellata. 
S. fuscata Hulst , described as a variety of quinquelinearia (16 i), has in fact according to Barnes and fuscata. 
Me Dltnnough nearly the maculation of that species but is of a dull grey colour and has the leg-structure of 
ancellata. It further differs from quinquelinearia in the more rounded hindwing and the straighter submarginal 
line and is closer to luteolata Hulst in everything but colour. California: Sierra Nevada, etc., at high altitudes. 
Also said to occur in British Columbia, but this reference may belong to ancellata. 
S. luteolata Hulst (16 b) is the only yellowish North American species of the present structure-group; luteolata. 
variable, but perhaps less in the colour (which Hulst calls “light clay brown”) than in the wing-expanse and 
the strength of the markings. The typical form has the markings weak, the postmedian and a pale subterminal 
the most distinct; the $$ are smaller, with the lines generally stronger; aberrations in both sexes can show 
a broader or stronger median shade and even, though rarely, sharp but minute black cell-dots. Not rare in 
Colorado. 
S. aemulata Hulst (= ? compensata Hulst, err. det., nec Walk.). “Expanse 18—20 mm. Dull clay- aemulata. 
white with an ochre tinge, powdered slightly with scattered blackish scales; forewing with a faint, dark fuscous 
extradiscal band, generally obsolete anteriorly, more definite towards inner margin; submarginal space fuscous, 
more decided towards anal angle, with an inner row of black dots on veins and an included wavy lighter line, marg¬ 
inal spots [dots] black; hindwing with the bands and lines continued, but darker and more distinct; discal spots 
black, distinct.” Florida, discovered at Charlotte Harbour in March; perhaps also in Texas. 
S. cacuminaria Morrison (= cacuminata Pack.) (16 b). This very distinct species, which Hulst quite cacuminaria. 
wrongly misidentified as purata Guen., is easily recognized by its sharply angled hindwing and the character 
VIII ' 18 
