22 
MALTHACA. By Dr. K. Jordan. 
dimidiata. 
centralis. 
mexicana. 
correbioides. 
erythro- 
melas. 
aequalis. 
marginata. 
teos. 
rata. 
radialis. 
drucei. 
radialis (genotype of Gingla Wh .), josialis, aequalis, marginata, thyesta, fusca, martenii and some 
of the nov. spec. 
b) The costal vein of the hindwing is united to the cell to a lesser extent, and the oblique vein 
between the costal and the subcostal branch is long. — Here belong centralis, mexicana, timon 
(genotype of Coementa Druce), correbioides (genotype of Felderia Kirby), rata and morio. 
For the purpose of the present work, however, it is advisable to arrange the species according to colour. 
a) Forewing at least partly yellow or red. 
M. dimidiata H.-Schdff. (= perlucidula Clem.) (9 a). Black, slightly purplish blue, foreleg partly 
yellowish, wings semitransparent, in the $ much more broadly and strongly rounded than in the $, with a 
yellow patch extending from the base to about the middle of the costal margin and from there to the upper 
submedian vein, but sometimes reduced to a narrow costal stripe. Subcostal branches 3 and 4 of the fore- 
wing stalked. Early stages described by Dyar in “Psyche” (1897, p. 128). The larva lives singly in oak-woods 
beneath the fallen leaves, on which it feeds; when full-grown dark velvety brown with brown warts, the upper 
three of which are placed in large, rather oblique, pale grey patches. Cocoon brownish, sparsely covered with 
loose white silk. Hibernates as pupa. — Atlantic States and northern Mexico. 
M. centralis Wkr. (= notha Edw .) (9 a). Black, slightly purplish, the bases of both wings, the sides of 
the pronotum, a frontal spot and a spot behind the eye, as well as the greater part of the palpi yellow. 
In both wings the two median branches far apart, in the forewing subcostals 3 and 4 stalked or from the cell. 
— Arizona and Mexico. 
M. mexicana Druce (9 a). Black, patagia anteriorly and prothorax laterally orange-yellow, as are also 
a frontal spot, the palpi, a spot on the forecoxa, some scales on the foretibia, the greater part of the fore¬ 
wing and the costal margin of the hindwing. — Mexico. 
M. correbioides Fldr. (9 a). Like the preceding species, but red instead of yellow, all coxae red at 
least laterally, frontal spot large. As in mexicana the costal vein of the hindwing anastomoses with the cell 
only for a short distance. — Mexico: Cuernavaca; 1 
M. erythromelas spec. nov. (9 a). Purplish black, foreleg with reddish stripe. Wings like 31. centralis 
in outline; forewing vermilion, a very narrow costal margin, a broader border to the hind and outer margins 
the last extending almost to the lower angle of the cell purple-black and somewhat irregular on its inner edge, 
base also purplish black, veins free or subcostal veins 3 and 4 from the same point, upper median branch 
near the angle of the cell. Hindwing purple-black, with broad vermilion costal stripe, which extends to below 
the cell and is obtusely pointed towards the apex; upper angle of cell transversely truncate, between sub¬ 
costal and first radial the oblique vein connecting the angle with the costal vein longer than half the breadth 
of the cell, first median branch twice as far from the second median as from the first radial. Length of fore¬ 
wing 12 mm. — 1 $ in the Oxford Museum (coll. Westwood) from Mexico. 
M. aequalis Druce (9 a). Less deeply red than correbioides, the black margin narrower, the hindwing 
quite black without red costal stripe, vein connecting costal and subcostal veins of hindwing short, oblique. 
In the forewing subcostals 4 and 5 stalked. — Mexico: Coatepec. 
M. marginata Edw. (9 b). Body black, thorax orange, wings dull orange, with very narrow black margin, 
which on the forewing is produced along the costal margin to the middle. — Mexico: Vera Cruz. 
M. teos Schaus (9 b). Body black, collar orange. Forewing light brown, at the costal margin yellowish 
to 2 /3 of its length, hindwing dull orange, the outer margin of both wings narrowly black as in the preceding. 
Underside dull orange with black outer margin. — Mexico: Vera Cruz. Not known to me. The figure 
in Biol. Centr.-Amer. which we reproduce here seems to be inexact (as also that of marginata). 
M. rata Edw. (9 b). Pale yellow, upperside of head, the antenna, meso- and metanota and upper- 
side of abdomen as well as the outer margin of both wings purplish black, the marginal band somewhat 
diffuse, especially on the underside of the hindwing, costal margin of forewing very narrowly black to the 
base. On the forewing subcostals 3 and 4 stalked, in the hindwing the costal vein anastomosing with the 
cell for a short distance. — Arizona. 
M. radialis Wkr. (9 b). Body black striped with yellow, underside with grey bands. Wings yellow with 
black outer margin; in the marginal band of the forewing between the veins nine pale yellow streaks and in 
the subcostal fork a pale yellow dot; connecting vein between costal and subcostal veins of hindwing 
perpendicular to the costal, not oblique, lower angle of the cell strongly produced. In the forewing subcostals 
4 and 5 stalked. — Mexico: Vera Cruz. 
M. drucei spec. nov. (= radialis Druce nec Wkr.) (9 b). The legs less extended yellowish grey than 
in radialis, forewing with broad black stripe along the hindmargin, which in radialis is only indicated by 
a few scales, in the marginal band 11 pale yellow streaks, marginal band of hindwing broader anteriorly 
and posteriorly than in radialis-, connecting vein between costal and subcostal veins of hinclwing directed 
