PTEROTH YS ANU S . By Dr. A. Seitz. 
277 
Genus: fterothysamis Wkr. 
This isolated genus, containing only a small group of very closely allied forms, is placed by Kirby at 
the end of the Nyctemeridae, by PI amp son directly before the Lymantriidae, so that the genus will at first be 
looked for between these two groups and it is therefore inserted here. In fact it forms, as is also mostly assumed, 
a separate family which, however, would more correctly have to be placed near the Callidulidae. On discovering 
the larvae, this will be cleared up. 
In spite of the difference in the exterior habitus, the anatomy shows many marks common to the Calli' 
dulids. The rather large head has small eyes, thin antennae, the ends being curved like an S in the living insect, 
short legs, a thin, though functional proboscis, the 2nd palpal joint furrily scaled, the thorax of a moderate 
width, the abdomen short. On the forewing the costal terminates separately into the costal margin, nor do 
the (4) subcostal branches anastomose anywhere, whereas in the Nyctemerids they always form an areola; 
the anterior radials rise very closely near each other, separated afar from the posterior one branching off righ 
behind the upper median vein. On the hindwing the costal approaches the subcostal, so that it almost anasto¬ 
moses with it, as is always the case in the Callidulidae. A difference consists in the transverse vein being more 
distinctly developed than in the Callidulidae, where we often meet with quite open cells (in Pterodecta on both 
wings, in Tetragonus on the hind wing). 
Like the Callidulidae, the Pterothysanus also fly in day-time and behave like Bhopalocera. The almost 
bare body peculiarly contrasts with the wings being haired manelike and exhibiting above also single, upright 
bristles. The range is confined to the eastern part of the Himalaya and some of its spurs. 
P. iaticilia Wkr. (30 h). North India, particularly in Sikkim, in some places common. Dark greyish- laiicilia. 
brown, with white spots on the forewing and irregular bands on the hindwing. Head and abdomen for the 
greatest part orange-red ; the mane at the margin of the hindwing may be up to one cm long. The white spotting 
varies to such an extent that of the 10 specimens of my collection there are not even 2 alike, nor among the 
6 specimens that were captured at the same place and time. The white spots may most variably flow together 
to chains or bands, and in these bands there may appear again dark spots. On account of this variability we 
must doubt the justification of most of the forms being regarded as separate species. Very much blackened 
species may be found everywhere among typical specimens as we figure from Sikkim (30 h). — lanaris Btlr. lanaris. 
which is reported to come from China, has instead of the median band of the hindwing only single spots. -—- In 
atratus Btlr. (= Orleans Oberth.) (26 1) from Assam the whole white is reduced and at the margin of the wing atratus. 
there are small pink spots. — pictus Btlr. from Elephanta has likewise small pink marginal spots, but the white jrictus. 
is on both wings increased. — noblei Swinh. from Burrnah is somewhat smaller than Iaticilia, the black and noblei. 
white distributed as there, but the pink marginal spots are distinct and large. 
Additions. 
Celarna cingalesa Moore (= culaca Sivinh.) is a form from Southern India and Ceylon, somewhat cingalesa. 
larger than taeniata; ground-colour light, whitish-grey, the median band of the forewing is only indicated in 
its borders by 2 dentate transverse lines the proximal one of which is indistinct, but begins with a black triangle 
in the middle of the costa, while the distal line projects below the costa in a sharp tooth; at the base of the 
costa a black clot and before the margin an irregular dentate line. 
Page 121: Read Eugoa trifasciata Snell., not Moore. 
Page 127: Chamaita hirta Wil. $ white, semi-transparent, the veins of the forewing covered with hiria. 
brownish hairs, except in the distal third (perhaps they have been rubbed off from there). $ whitish, semi- 
diaphanous and distinctly speckled brownish. 18 mm, $ 18 to 20 mm. One specimen from Kanshirei, at 
an altitude of 1000 ft, in May, and a $ from the same habitat, in August; it approximates nympha Moore. 
( 
Page 127; Charuaita metamelaena Hmps. (13 d) from New Guinea has in the basal part dark brown, metamelae- 
light marked wings in the distal part whitish, semi-diaphanous wings. Body dark greyish-brown, bead and na 
shoulder-covers white. 
