260 
PHYTOMETRA. By M. Gaede. 
Ihnhlrcna. 
Vimhircnol- 
dcs. 
melanacc- 
phahi. 
fiircifcra. 
ablusa. 
violascens. 
liinata. 
gorilla. 
nicrostigina. 
distalagma. 
Ph. Hmbirena Gn. (= gamma Kollar) (31 c). Thorax and forewings dark violaceous brown. Ante- 
median line brown, double, interfilled with white, undulate, inclining inwards. Orbicular stigma with pale edge, 
almost forming a prone “8”. Below the silver edged “U” mark, with the inner point incurved. Closely adjoining 
a large silver spot, which in the similar signata is widely removed. Reniform stigma narrow, with pale edge, 
the space proximally and especially distally darker, this darker shade extending to below the silver mark. Outer 
line pale with dark interfilling, with silver spot at inner margin. It is incurved behind the cell, deeply dentate 
inwards on submedian fold, the inner branch there being generally rusty yellow. Submarginal line indistinct, 
dentate, with white saggitate point above vein 2. Hindwings coppery brown. — limbirenoides Strd. has the 
silver mark in “Y” shape, instead of “U”. 26—30 mm. Common and widely distributed. It occurs from St. 
Helena to Madagascar and Mauritius, throughout the whole of Africa south of the Sahara and also in India. 
Ph. melanocephala Mschlr. { = aenescens E. Prout). In the typical sj^ecimen there is little to be seen; 
in most of the african Phytometra species, there are specimens in which the markings are almost unrecognisable 
and this is the case in this species. Thorax and forewings black-brown, heavily bronze-green above centre of 
inner margin. Silver markings as in Hmbirena. Postmedian line bronze-green, excurved below costa and at 
vein 3. A row of white submarginal and marginal dots, of the latter the one at vein 4 is very large. Hindwings 
also dark at base. In aenescens there is besides a silvery white antemedian line visible, that proceeds obliquely 
oiitwards. The submarginal line consists of black and white dots. The stigmata in one specimen are as in 
melmioce'phala and Hmbirena, in another they are divided and similar to signata (31 d). 31—33 mm. The Cape, 
Natal and Rhodesia. 
Ph. furcifera Wkr. (= mutans Wkr., ogovana Holl., babooni B.-Bak.) (31 c). This species is easily 
recognisable by the dark triangle on costa of forewings, that is much more contrasting than in Hmbirena. Further 
by the end tip of the silver mark, that is frequently all that is present. Forewings reddish brown, with dense 
dark striations, otherwise everything as in Hmbirena. Antemedian line and orbicular stigma similarly. The 
adjoining silvery spot is boot-shaped, but only the tip is distinct. Above this and to the antemedian line or 
approximately so, the ground is dark, also to Y^rd of costa. Postmedian line as in Hmbirena. There are no white 
streaks in the indistinct submarginal line. 28—30 mm. Common and widely distributed. West, vSouth and 
East Africa and extending to Australia. 
II.^MPSON inserts here a few species, in which the silver mark is absent or very indistinct. 
Ph. ablusa Feldr. (31 c). Thorax and forewings dark golden yellow, end of cell and aj^ical area pale 
violet. Antemedian line finely fuscous, arched, inwards below cell. Orbicular and reniform stigmata indicated 
by faint rusty brown spots. Below the cell a narrow rusty brown cimeiform mark in place of the silver mark, 
which is barely discernible. Median line diffuse, fuscous, outwards to lower angle of cell, then inwards. Post¬ 
median line somewhat outwards at costa, parallel to margin to vein 4, incurved at vein 2, then vertically. Sub¬ 
marginal line faintly undulate, parallel to margin. Hindwings whitish yellow, faintly brown at margin. 30 to 
32 mm. South Africa. 
Ph. violascens Rmps. (31 c). Very similar to ahlvsa, also in the colouration. Antemedian line obliquely 
inwards on forewings, brown, with inner silvery scales, which however are here and elsewhere barely discernible. 
Orbicular stigma oblique, “8” shaped with silvery edge, as also the small reniform stigma. Postmedian line is 
not impressed on submedian fold. Submarginal line and hindwings as in ablusa. In $ hindwings are more reddish, 
the silvery scales even less distinguishable. 34—36 mm. Three specimens from South Africa are known. 
Ph. lunata F. { = anargyra Gn., spoliata Wkr., reticulata Mr.) (31 c). Recognisable by the short acute 
incurving of the postmedian line on the submedian fold. Thorax and forewings dark violaceous brown with 
delicate white lines. Antemedian line widely excurved to median nervure, acutely dentate. Orbicular stigma 
obliquely rectangular, prolonged to vein 2, thus replacing a silver mark. Reniform stigma consists of 2 prone 
oval marks, that are slightly conjoined towards the base. Postmedian fine obliquely inwards, undulate. Sub¬ 
marginal line somewhat indented at vein 5. The white line at margin is the most distinct. 32—35 mm. West 
Africa, Uganda, Madagascar. Also distributed over India. 
Ph. gorilla Holl. (31 d). Striking by the poverty of marking. Thorax and forewings coppery brown. 
Antemedian line fine, double, undulate, barely discernible. Orbicular stigma absent, reniform indicated by 
faint brown edge. Postmedian line indistinguishable, double, inwards behind the cell and below vein 3. Hind¬ 
wings somewhat paler. 30 mm. Described from 1 $ from the Congo region. 
Ph. microstigma Hmps. (31 d). Resembles a small violascens. Body and forewings glossy golden bronze, in¬ 
clined to grey distally of postmedian line. An oblique antemedian line is indicated. A small silver mark below 
cell. Orbicular and reniform stigmata indistinguishable except through the dark outline. Postmedian line 
indistinct, undulate, parallel to margin. Submarginal line and hindwings as in violascens, less pale in basal 
area. 26 mm. Described from 1 $ from the Gold Coast. 
Ph. distalagma Hmj)s. (31 d). Body and forewings violaceous roseate brown, a spot below end of cell 
and at margin being glossy coppery. Antemedian line dark brown, almost obsolete. Two short silvery streaks 
