256 
GONOPACHA; GONOMETA. By Dr. C. Aurivillius. 
rothschi Idi. 
broioessci. 
2. Genus: Goiiojmclia gen.nov. 
Last year Tams placed G. brotoessa to the genus Hypotrabala. Thereby my attention was called to the 
morphology of this species, and I must admit that it is no Gonometa, but more closely allied with Gonobombyx 
and Hypotrabala. By the distal margin of the forewing being angular at the end of vein 5 and the vein 9 ending 
in the apex of the fore wing it corresponds to Gonobombyx and deviates from Gonometa with which, however, 
it entirely corresponds in the shape of the 3 hindwing. It differs from Gonobombyx in the marks stated in the 
table of the genera, but from Hypotrabala almost only in the shape of the wings. There is also a remarkable 
consistency in the characteristic markings of the forewings between Hypotrabala castanea and the $ of Gono¬ 
pacha rothschildi which I regard as the type of the genus. 
G. rothschildi sp. n. (36 a). i\.s the specimens from Rothschild’s collection, according to which 
the figures were made, are no more before me, I must confine myself to referring to them and can only add 
that the wings of the $ are beneath black with bright yellow veins. Cameroon: Bitje. — I formerly re¬ 
garded this 8 species as G. brotoessa Holl., but as Holland’s description is different, I quote here brotoessa as 
an independent species. 
G. brotoessa Holl. ,,S- Frons, chest, and thoracal dorsum deep chestnut-brown. Abdomen above 
quite steel-blue, beneath with the chest rust-coloured. Forewing bright chestnut-brown with a white discal 
spot being surrounded with black, and an almost triangular yellow spot behind the discal cell near the base 
of the wing; in the centre of the wing there are two indistinct angular black lines extending from the apex of 
the wing to the centre of the hind-margin. Hindwing bluish-black, at the costal margin dark rust-brown. 
Forewing beneath chestnut-brown, in the discal cell and disc blackish. Hindwing beneath coloured as above. 
Expanse of wings: 65 mm.“ — Abdomen as in the 3 but much larger. Upper surface of abdomen lustrous 
steel-blue with an orange-yellow anal pencil. Both the fore wing and hindwing above and beneath unicoloured 
chestnut-brown. Expanse of wings: 85 to 100 mm.“ West Africa: Ogowe River. — As the description of the 
3 is so similar to the 3 of G. rothschildi , the shape of the wings which is not mentioned will probably be also the 
same. Both sexes however, differ in the abdomen being steel-blue above, and the $ is quite different from 
that of rothschildi. Thus there are probably two different species of Gonopacha. 
3. Genus: Gonometa Walk. 
To this genus belong the largest of all the African Lasiocampidae. They are besides distinguished by 
the great difference of the sexes. The S'<3 are invariably smaller, often much smaller than the $$, and exhibit 
long and narrow, sharply pointed forewings which are often without any marking, whereas the hindwings are 
triangular, at the distal margin straight or deeply emarginated, rarely rounded off; abdomen slender and coniform. 
The distal margin of the fore wing is much longer than the anal margin. In the much larger $$ the forewings 
are shorter and broader, less pointed, so that the distal margin is only as long as, or shorter than the anal 
margin; above they are usually decorated with darker transverse bands. Hindwing of a normal size with a 
rounded distal margin. 
Beside the shape of the wings, the genus is characterised by the following marks: palpi short, not or 
hardly projecting beyond the frons, with appressed scales, a short knob-shaped terminal joint, closely appressed 
to the head. Eyes bare. Antennae in the S in the basal halves with very long, then moderately long 
pinnae, whilst in the $ the pinnae are short as far as the apex. Collar and thoracal dorsum with smoothly 
appressed hair; thorax of S narrow and oblong. Forewing: veins 4 and 5 separated, 6 and 7 usually on a 
short pedicle, 8 from the apex of the discal cell, 9 and 10 generally as long as, rarely shorter than their pedicle, 
9 into the distal margin (the species in which it terminates into the apex probably belong to a different genus). 
Hindwing: veins 4 and 5 forked or from the same base; basal cell closed by a long slanting cross-vein. Abdomen 
of $ without anal wool. Hind tarsi with appressed scales. 
The larvae are everywhere, or at least on the dorsum and sides, armed with sharp needle-shaped bristles, 
and besides at least on the sides long-haired; all the joints are uniformly developed and armed; no decorative 
spots. Head relatively small. The cocoon is regularly elliptical, parchment-like, and everywhere densely clothed 
with the larval needles and hairs. 
For the present it is impossible to divide the species into natural groups owing to our defective knowledge 
of the sexes and larvae. We may, however, point out the fact that the hindwings are triangular and at the 
distal margin more or less deeply emarginated in the S3 °f G. postica, podocarpi, badia, nysa, Cassandra, titan, 
sjostedti, regia, ferox, and attenuata. In the S of G. griseocincta the hindwing, however, is broadly rounded at 
the distal margin. 
