PuU. 16. VI. 1931). 
ABROSTOLA; BARCITA. By M. Gaede. 2fi3 
4. Genus: Abrostola 0. 
The approximately 10 species of this Genus are distributed over the wliole world. lu Africa there are 
2 of them. They differ from the Phytometra by the different marking of tlie imagines and the differences in 
the larvae. 
A. triopis Hmps. (= bicyclata Oaede) (31 g). Thorax and forewings brownish grey. The 3 stigmata IrionV. 
with black surrounds. Orbicular stigma and a similar mark below the reniform, large and round. Antemedian 
line black, double, excurved at costa, then vertically. Postmedian line almost straight, slightly incurved at vein 
2, double. Both lines interfilled with brown. Submarginal line grey-white, finely dentate, straight. Hindwings 
coppery brown. 28—32 mm. South, South West and East Africa. 
A. brevipennis Wkr. (31 g). Reddish ochreous brown. Antemedian line double, black, vertical, ex- hrcvipcnni 
curved in centre. Orbicular stigma and a spot below with a common edge. Reniform stigma large, indistinctly 
outlined. A dark patch between the stigmata. Postmedian line black, double, interfilled with grey-brown 
anteriorly, proceeding from near apex to % of inner margin, straight, only slightly excurved at vein 3. Distally 
widely dark brown from apex to vein 4. Hindwings coppery brown, paler at base. 30—34 mm. South and 
East Africa. 
Subfamily: Noduinae. 
In the elaboration of the indian Heterocera by Hampson, we miss the subdivision of the Noctuinae. This 
name seems to have first appeared when working on the south african fauna in Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 2, p. 255 etc 
in the year 1902. There a subdivision took place in subfamilies according to whether the tibiae had spurs or 
not. The groups in which vein 5 of hindwings is weaker, do not interest us here. We are only dealing with the 
subfamilies in which vein 5 is bolder and the central tibiae are without spurs. These are the Mominae, Erastriinae. 
Phytometrmae, Noctuinae. The Moyninae, which in this work are classified quite close to the Acronyctmae, 
Hampson placed widely separated. The Phytometrinae vary so much, that almost any layman can distinguish 
and separate them. The Erastriinae differ by the weaker vein 5 on hindwings, that also arises further removed 
from lower angle of cell; both in contrast to the Noctumae. As can be gathered from the widely diverging classi¬ 
fications of the Mommae, the separation of the subfamily on the basis of such insignificant characteristics may 
be held to be a merely temporary measure. Practically all the Noctuiyiae could be classified partly with the 
Erastriinae, partly, in fact largely with the Catocalmae. Thereby this already so numerous group, would become 
so unwieldy as to be impracticable. The number of sj)ecies in the Noctuinae is actually very vast. Hampson’s 
work on the Noctuidae comprised 10 Volumes. The volumes of the Noctuiyiae, which were not published, would 
have amounted to another 5 Volumes. Even though the group of Noctuiyiae is heterogenous, it should be retained 
for reasons of expediency. Otherwise and on general grounds there is no reason why a Hypocala should be sep¬ 
arated from a Catocala, a Fodina from Grarnyriodes , an Arete from Cocytodes; all might in fact be classified among 
the Catocalinae. Similarly those Genera with palpi, the monstrous size of which would compare favourably 
with many a Hypeninae (as for instance Aburiyia and Deiyiypena) could just as well be placed among the P[y- 
peninae. 
Very little is known in regard to the ecology and habits of the species and their larvae. The number 
of species often seems to be very considerable. Also the variability, which in some cases has j^roduced a large 
crop of denominations, although this is not quite so enormous as in the Stictopteriyiae. 
Up to the Phytornetriyiae, Hampson’s Catalogue has been a great help in tlie production of this work. 
For the now following groups we owe a great debt of thanks to the British Museum for their generous help and 
especially to Mr. W. H. T. Tams, without whose support and friendly collaboration, both in regard to the text 
and the illustrations, we should have been unable to complete our work. 
1. Genus; JSiiveitn Mschlr. 
Palpi projecting over the frons, the 3rd segment long. Collar somewhat erect. Abdomen stoiit, extending 
beyond the hindwings, fiat, with faint tuft at base; legs sparsely hairy. Antennae of $ finely ciliate. Forewings 
wide, outer margin undulate. Type: ynuscosa AlscJilr. from Jamaica. Besides the species from America, two 
from Madagascar are classified in this Genus. 
B. tessellata Kenr. (42 a). Body and wings dark brown. Antemedian line whitish, double, irregular, tcssellaia. 
Median and postmedian lines dark, obsolescent. Submarginal line like the antemedian line. On hindwings 
only the submarginal line is discernible. The type is poor in markings. Other specimens are darker to the post¬ 
median line, with a pale triangle in centre of costa. At outer margin to the centre, grey-white, distally of the 
vertical submarginal line, which proceeds inwards from the centre, parallel to postmedian line. 45 mm. Mada¬ 
gascar. 
B. pratti Kenr. (42 a). Differing completely from the preceding species. Forewings pale ochreous pratti. 
brown with lilac sheen. Antemedian band wide, brown, approximately vertical, enclosing an undulate dark 
liTie. Distally a dark cell spot and 3 indistinct median lines. The postmedian and submarginal lines are just 
XV 34 
