General Topics by Dr. A. Seitz. 
HETEROGYNIDAE, JANSEOLA. By M. Gaede. 
3!) 
3. Family: Heterogynidae. 
In Vol. 2 (p. 349) we stated this family based upon very few dispersed species to be a branch of the 
Zygaenid family, which by a certain stunted growth of its shape and of the mobility of the $ almost approximates 
the Psychidae. Hampson, in his pedigree *), denotes this fami'y to be a direct sprout of the Zygaenidae, from 
which the Psychidae with which the branch terminates have developed. We have therefore ranged the only 
European Heterogynida there directly before the Psychidae. 
In the meantime Hampson’s new system has been published**) in which Hampson supplies a key for 
ascertaining his lepidopteral families, but no commentary for their arrangement. There he gives the family 
the new name of ,,Epicnopterygidae < ' < ’ and ranges them with the subsequent Arbelidae between the Psychidae 
and the Cossidae (resp. H ypoptidae) . From the Zygaenidae the group is far separated in this succession, whereas 
the Psychidae follow directly upon the Uraniidae. We cannot find that this arrangement corresponds better 
to the feeling of natural relationship than ours in Vol. 2, which is frequently applied for conventional reasons. 
In our statements on the Heterogynidae on p. 349 of Vol. 2 we mentioned that particularly the larvae 
differ from those of the Psychidae in living freely, without sacs, on the food-plant. Thereby they are easily 
separable from the Psychidae, although at another place we spoke up for the opinion that the Psychidae them¬ 
selves do not represent a homogeneous group, but a number of phylogenetically independent lepidopteral 
families which, by their living in sacs, exhibit many common marks. 
The habits of the Heterogynidae entirely make the impression of those of Psychidae. They fly rather 
slowly and dreamily on bushy, sunny slopes of mountains, fluttering to and fro in a similar way as the species 
of Sterrhopteryx on alpine meadows. Their flight has nothing at all to do with that of homogeneous Zygaenidae, 
as for instance the (whizzing) flight of Pollanisus and Procris. In Spain, in the Pyrenees (Ordesa-Valley), I 
found the species not in masses but nevertheless daily in some specimens flying about 2 to 3 m above the 
ground; the flight is unsteady, but slow and searching. The species seems not to be pursued by birds, but 
I saw several times Asilids hunting after them; this may be the reason Avhy the Heterogynis did not fly lower 
down at that place. The frequently settled down on the ends of the twigs of rather high-growing boxtree- 
bushes. 
The African species is apparently very similar to our European H. penella, excepting its smaller size. 
Heterogynidae. 
The family is hardly separable from the Zygaenidae by the parts of the mouth, since among the exotic 
Zygaenidae there are likewise many genera in which the palpi and proboscis are absent. The only mark of 
distinction may be the direction of the veins. In the forewing vein 2 extends into the inner angle, and both 
the hindmarginal veins are curved towards the hind-margin. The $ are without wings, like caterpillars, 
but of course unknown in the exotics. In Africa but one genus and one certain species. 
1. Genus: «lanseola Hopp. 
Head porrect, legs slender, tibiae with terminal spurs. Antennae shorter, with thicker and denser 
pectinations than in Heterogynis Rmb. The wings are narrower. Veins of forewing all present, separate. Vein 
6 more remote from 6. In the hindwing all the veins are separate. Vein 7 forms the anterior margin of the 
cell. Vein 8 rising from the centre of the cell. 
*) Catal. Pep. Phal. I, p. 15. 
**) Novitat. Zoolog. 25, p. 383. 
