232 
ARCTIIDAE. Introduction. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
nificent, metallic spots, the Ecpantheria by their peculiar blue rings on a white ground, the Automolis 
by the strange patterns of their wings. Such a graceful, variegated appearance as is exhibited by the 
Utetheisa, Seirarctia, Chionaema (Bizone), Ambryllis boisduvalii (Arctia juneralls H.-Schaff.), Arachnis 
picta, is even rare in the otherwise most variegated Lepidoptera- genera. The scheme of colouring as is 
exhibited by Daritis sacrifica, the $$ of the Indian Peridrome orbicularis, the Anaxita decorata from 
from Mexico, must be pronounced perhaps not as quite grotesque, but at any rate as quite out of the common. 
In Vol. X (p. 105) a parallel is set up referring to the distribution of the colours in the Arctiid family 
on the two hemispheres. In the Old World we found the northern temperate zone to be the patria of nume¬ 
rous extremely variegated and brilliant species, whilst the hot zone is occupied by mostly insignificant, not 
very glaringly coloured forms. The comparison of the very variegated tables 16 to 18 in Vol. II (containing 
the palearctic Arctiidae) with the tables 19 to 25 in Vol. X (containing the Indo-Australian Arctiids) makes 
this behaviour easily recognizable. In the same way the magnificently coloured and marked nearctic genera of 
the Arctiids, such as Apantesis , Hyphoraia, Platyprepia, Parasemia etc. occur in North America, in order to 
disappear to the south where they are replaced by insignificantly yellow or white species ( Haploa , H yphantria, 
Ecpantheria, Pygarctia). Of more than 40 variegated Apantesis in the United States there is only one species 
in Mexico. 
Further towards the south the genuine Arctiini disappear altogether, and also the Spilosomatini die 
away into insignificant, earth-coloured or grey forms of the genus Antarchia the $ of which is partly wingless. 
On the eastern hemisphere, in the southernmost parts (Australia and New Zealand) there appears once more 
the variegated type of the inclement north in the genera Metacrias, Ardices, Phaos (Estigmene) etc. which, 
however, is no more the case in South America. 
In Tropical America there occur then Arctiids of another type ( Charideini) in great varieties, moreover 
the Automolis, Robinsonia, Idalus, Prumola and their allies, the habitus of which sometimes already exhibits 
a relation to the Halisidota, an uncommonly multiform genus showing, however, very few singular markings 
and colours, which belongs to the Phaegopterini (with nearly 500 forms) and is altogether confined upon America. 
In the Old World there is no similar type found; the place it occupies in America has remained almost vacant 
on the eastern hemisphere; only a single genus consisting of few species, Rhodogastria, by the biological behaviour, 
the shape, and to some extent, also by the colouring reminds us of the ramous group of the Phaegopterinae 
in America. Not much is known yet of the larvae of the Phaegopterinae-, but if there prevails with them the 
same conformity as with the butterflies of this group, all are probably distinguished by pencil-like or scopiform 
hair-brushes rising behind the head, on the second ring, and at the anal end of the larva. They are less com¬ 
plicated than the hairy pads, brushes and tufts of the Automolis, but they strongly recall the same hairy cover 
of the South American Syntomidae, where the anterior and posterior ends of the larvae are likewise decorated 
by pencil-shaped hair-tufts. 
As to the group of the Pericopini we have already above mentioned some facts, further particulars 
will be given when dealing with this group. The approximately 150 forms reckoned hereto have a rather con¬ 
formable structure and exactly the same habits. In contrast with the nocturnal Phaegopterini and Charideini 
they fly actively in daytime, in case they are chased up, although some have also been taken by the lamp, like 
in our European Arctiidae. As larvae they are decidedly day-animals. 
The other groups composing the Arctiini of America are such that are also represented in the Old World 
and which have, therefore, all been already dealt with in Vol. II and Vol. X. These are the Nolinae differing 
little from the palearctic forms, and the Lithosiinae likewise exhibiting great conformity in their distribution 
over the world, as to their colouring, size, shape and also habits. The Nyctemerinae, being distributed on the 
eastern hemisphere do not occur in America, nor do the Hypsinae occur there. The Callimorphinae would be 
only American, if one places the Platyprepia or Haploa to them, which does not seem to me to be advisable. 
Entirely unparalleled in the west are the Papuan Cocytia, the relations of which to the Arctiid family we have 
denoted to be very loose, and the Pterothysanus placed to the Nyctemerinae by Kirby, which, however, as 
we mentioned in Vol. X, p. 377, do not belong to them at all and which we have inserted in the Arctiids only 
by way of appendix. 
The important part played by the Arctiidae in the Old World owing to the frequently very great number 
of specimens and to their conspicuous appearance, also appertains to them in America. Just like Utetheisa 
pulchella is mostly the first butterfly met with on setting one’s foot on the southern coast of Europe or the 
northern coast of Africa, we are almost everywhere welcomed by Utetheisa ornatrix or bella on stepping on 
land in tropical America. At another place I have already mentioned that there exist certain common symptoms 
in the fauna at the most remote places of our globe, and the Arctiidae contribute their mite to it. Whether 
I disembark in Adelaide, in Ceylon or Hongkong, in Bahia or Algier, everywhere the Utetheisa will be productive 
of the first impressions made upon me. In the north I shall find the Spilosoma close above the soil, down on 
the planks, lanterns or socles, just as well in Tokio and Baltimore as in Germany. Only when I visit the 
rich vegetations of the gardens and woods, there appear the variegated Arctiids-, in the Old World the Calli- 
morpha and Arctia, in the west the Pericopinae. On knocking on trees and branches, there will appear every¬ 
where Lithosiinae being alike each other; only in the (mostly nocturnal) Arctiid groups, such as the Phaego¬ 
pterinae and the Automolinae America abounds by far more than the Old World. 
