EPIPLEMIDAE; DECET1A. By M. Gaede. 
1141 
18. Family: Epiplemidae. 
The uncertainty concerning the position of this group makes it also very difficult to insert its elaboration 
in the various volumes of the “Macrolepidoptera”. While older authors combined it with the Uraniidae, other 
species ranged here could be ascertained to be allied with the Geometridae. Later on, when these combined 
species proved to be no Epiplemidae at all and to have been classified with them only by mistake, one fell back 
to emphasizing these relations to the Uraniidae. In genera], the systematizers who confined themselves to 
examining one criterion have arrived at very different results. Kirby’s Catalogue, while inserting the 
Uraniidae — perhaps not wrongly — between the Cocytiidae and Agaristidae both being groups with certain 
relations to the large Noctuid family, does not mention the Epiplemidae at all in the volume containing all 
the Macroheterocera except the Geometrids and Noctuids; thus, it seems, Kirby has found the Epiplemidae 
to be in no way connected with any of the families enumerated in his Catalogue, nor with the Uraniidae. Hampson 
derives the Uraniidae, Heterogynidae, Cossidae etc. from the Zygaenidae, and from the Uraniidae on the one 
hand the Notodontidae, on the other hand the Geometridae (and as third the Ceratocampidae as the forerunners 
of the Saturnid group); in this case, the Uraniidae sens. ang. would probably form the transition to the Noto¬ 
dontidae, and the Epiplemidae to the Geometridae. In his enumeration the Uraniidae follow upon the Sematuridae 
which he separates from them. Considering such uncertainty it is of no great importance where the Ejnplemidae 
have been placed; it is at any rate not our task to establish new systems, we are merely guided here by perspi¬ 
cuity; the general characters of the Epiplemidae may be read over again in Vol. II, p. 277, Vol. X, p. 93 and 
577, and Vol. XIV, p. 390. 
Proboscis and frenulum present. Vein 5 in both wings arises from the middle of the cross-vein or above 
it. Veins 6 -f- 7 of the forewing are usually stalked, 7 being at any rate widely separated from vein 8. Vein 8 
of hindwing from its beginning arises freely from the base. Concerning single peculiarities and habits, we refer 
our readers to all the necessary details mentioned in Vol. X (p. 577) and Vol. XIV (p. 387), where we have also 
mentioned the hair-case on the hindwing of Er. birostrata Gn. from South America. 
As in the Old World, there are also in America but few species occurring in the temperate zone. In the 
tropical regions, Peru seems to be relatively rich in species. As in the Indo-Australian Fauna, the genus Epiplema 
contains an excessive number of species compared with the other genera. The species have been known for 
a very long time, Walker having already described a considerable number of them, though of course many 
synonyma may be among them. By far the most of the species have been described by Warren as in the Indo- 
Australian Fauna, too. Owing to the kindness of Dr. Jordan who placed illustrations of them at our disposal, 
we are now able to present a great part of Warren’s types. Without this assistance it would be futile to treat 
this family. Both the author and the readers of this work are therefore greatly indebted to Dr. Jordan. The 
work has also been aided by the kind information of Mr. W. H. Tams of the British Museum. Most of the genera 
contain only American species; in the few species represented also in other faunae, this fact has been mentioned. 
In the present volume, as well as in the African and Indo-Australian Faunae, the Epiplemidae are separated 
from the Uraniidae, in accordance with modern views. By reason of the tympanal organs on the abdomen being 
the same in both the groups, Sick now states (in the Verhandl. Deutsc-h. Zool. Ges., Vol. 37) that both are to 
be united again as formerly. We cannot argue here whether it is appropriate to take such a decision merely 
from this one organ. 
1. Genus: Decetia Wkr. 
This genus, like the whole family of Epiplemidae, is difficult to define, and some palaeartic species 
have been branched off as a separate genus ( Mimozethes Warr.) and enumerated as Drepanidae (cf. Vol. II, 
p. 196). In the supplementary to Vol. II Mimozethes has been placed to the Epiplemidae (p. 172). The genus 
being represented by 17 forms in the Indian Region was more largely dealt with in Vol. X, p. 580, where a 
number of species are figured on pi. 58 e. The resemblance of the habitus to that of some Drepanidae is evident. 
— Palpi short. Antennae of E with one row of pectinations. Forewing broad with a pointed apex, shortly 
