Publ. 20. IV. 1938. 
113 
CIDARIA. By L. B. Prout. 
The type form shows only the costal half of the median band and a very small and weak posterior remnant. 
— ab. costovata (Wehrli MS.) Vorbrodt (= peterfii Dioszeghy) is almost a synonym, the costal spot much less costovata. 
than half the wing-breadth, distal markings (at least in peterfii type) obsolescent excepting the apical dash. 
Described respectively from Bern and Lapusnicul river valley (Retyezat, district). — ab. dissoluta Hofer. with dissolula. 
the posterior part of the median band represented by small, isolated spots, is, as already mentioned above, 
the actual.form which we figured in Vol. 4. — ab. interrupta (Schawerda) Hofer (= stragulata H.-Sch., fig. 297), interrupta. 
corresponding to the like-named aberration of variata, does also occur in stragulata, though here very rare. I 
have never seen a stragulata with absolutely complete band. — ab. grisescens Hofer, founded on a fresh, per- grisescens. 
feet $ from Tullnerbach (coll. Galvagni) has the ground-colour darkened by a sprinkling of grey scales. 
C. obeliscata Hbn. Hofer (Austria) and Osthelder (S. Bavaria) consider this species single-brooded obeliscata. 
(June onwards), variata double-brooded, commencing to appear earlier; Petersen (Esthonia) had definitely 
the opposite experience — obeliscata double-brooded, variata not so, though he concurs regarding the earlier 
appearance of variata; Lavallee, on the other hand, confirms the clouble-broocledness of both. On some ex¬ 
tensive observations and breeding experiments, carried out at Segrez (Seine-et-Oise), he notes several larval 
distinctions, though in varying degrees of constancy. Least reliable is the darker green colour of variata. In 
the later stages he finds — like other observers — a general constancy in the red thoracic legs of obeliscata. 
those of variata remaining green. Again, obeliscata shows (always visible, though sometimes interrupted) a 
slender mark uniting the spiracles and has the subspiracular line ivory white, at least at the extremities; in 
variata the spiracular streak is wanting and the subspiracular line is yellow throughout. Most important of 
all, in his material the anal points are only .3 or .4 mm long in adult variata, .7 or .8 mm in obeliscata, notwith¬ 
standing that variata is generally the larger larva. Cockayne notes that the number of the setae on the anal 
flap, though somewhat variable, gives some clue: in obeliscata it is 6 or 7 on each side, in variata 5 or 6. There 
is complete unanimity as to the natural foodplant of obeliscata (Pinus sylvestris), though Cockayne found 
one larva feeding on an isolated Abies nobilis and Ljungdahl has even recorded finding one on Juniperus 
communis. In captivity it will often, but not invariably, accept the foodplants of variata. — ab. herrichi Hofer herrichi. 
is the ordinary light fawn-brown banded form figured by Herrich-Schaeffer, the type figure of obeliscata 
(Hubner's) representing an Augsburg specimen with the median band darkened except costally. Osthelder 
considers herrichi a race in S. Bavaria. — ab. mediolucens Bossier (Vol. 4, p. 217) seems, according to Hofer, mediolucens. 
more of an alpine form. — ab. reducta Hofer has the median band reduced to a costal spot (half-band), corres- reducta. 
ponding to ab. costovata of variata. Type a $ from Podersom, Bohemia. — ab. nigrofasciata (Gmpbg. sec. Heyde- nigrofascia- 
mann). Median band of forewing black. See Vol. 4, p. 216 and the discussion above, under variata ab. nigro- ta - 
fasciata. Heydemann thinks that the name medionigricans Reutti, though diagnosed as “brownish white 
with unicolorous blackish median area”, also belongs here because at Malsch, Freiburg (the type locality) the 
food-plants of variata are wanting in the lowlands. — ab. juiliperoides Strand is small and rather dark, trans- juniperoides. 
itional towards ab. (et var.) obliterata B.-White (= scotica Stgr., nom. praeocc.), which Strand confused with 
a form of juniperata. A £ from Mo, Helgeland, ca. 66 0 N. lat., 24 July. — ab. brunneoalbata Heydem., founded brunneoalba- 
on a pair from Straussberg, near Berlin, has the ground-colour strongly whitened on each side of fa - 
the well-developed brown median band of the forewing. Compare diniensis below. — ab. loc. ( ? subsp.) pseudo- pseudovaria- 
variata Heydem. (= variata K tinner t, nec Schiff.) (11 c). Ground-colour more dulled with grey, both the basal ia - 
and the median band edged with black, the latter also with the veins and especially the hindmargin marked 
with black. This is the commonest form in Schleswig-Holstein and the Frisian Islands, as also in Britain, and 
has often passed for variata. — diniensis Heinrich, described as a subspecies of variata, is said to have the diniensis. 
basal and distal areas of the forewing strongly suffused with whitish, “otherwise as in obeliscata'’ . This reads 
more like obeliscata ab. brunneoalbata Heydem. than any conceivable variata- form and may have to supplant 
Heydemann’s name. — hybr. prouti Cockayne ( obeliscata x variata -§) differs chiefly from hybr. woodi in prouti. 
being darker and lacking the branded and pale variegated forms; only one example yet recorded really ap¬ 
proaches variata. Its author remarks that, so far as e idence is available, “the influence of obeliscata appears 
to be the greater” in both crossings, though “especially when it is the $ parent.” 
C. exangulata Warr. (Vol. 4, pi. 8 1) is further recorded from Wassekou, 1 $ (see Sterneck. Iris, exangulata. 
Vol. 45, p. 83). 
C. cognata Thnb. ab. nigrofasciata F. Hoffmann, from Styria, has the median band of the forewing nigrofascia- 
completely blackened. — lisciata Dannehl, said to be a dark race in Upper Bavaria (Schliersee district), is f ta 
only known to me in two examples and these are closely like the small dark form from Sligo which has not 
hitherto been definitely separated from typical cognata; Dannehl only compared with geneata. 
C. postalbida Wilem. (11c) possibly extends to W. China (Kwanhsien), though the specimen which postalbida. 
Sterneck doubtfully refers here differs in that the antemedian line runs to the middle of the hindmargin and 
the black dot and line of the hindmargin are wanting. 
Supplementary Volume 4 
15 
