BOMBYCLDAE; NORASUMA; OCINARA. By M. Gaede. 
283 
9. Family: Bombycidae. 
This family has but very few representatives in Africa. The few species of the two genera, on having 
been examined more minutely, will later on partly prove to be the forms of very few species. The family is 
characterised by the absence of the proboscis, the palpi being very much stunted, the antennae of both sexes 
strongly pectinated, legs hairy, without spurs. Frenulum absent. The wings, are broad. Vein 5 invariably 
rises on the centre of the cross-vein, the veins near the apex on the fore wing are somewhat declined. Vein 10 
always rises before veins 8 and 9. The larvae exhibit the well-known structure of Bombyx mori. Cocoon oblong 
oviform. 
As to the general conditions, we refer to the respective places in Vol. Ill, p. 189; Vol. VI, and 
particularly Vol. X, p. 433. 
1. Genus: ^orsisuma Mr. 
Wings broad, about similar to Bomb. mori. Costal margin of forewing straight, only at the apex more 
bent, the apex itself also rounded off. Distal margin below the apex slightly inserted. Anal angle strongly 
rounded. On the hindwing the hind-margin is slightly inserted, the distal margin near the anil angle rather 
straight. Xeuration of forewing: veins 6—10 stalked, vein 6 only very short stalked, and 9 + 8 + 7 from 
a joint base, vein 11 separate. In the hindwing veins 6 and 7 stalked. Type: javcinica Mr. from Java. 
N. kolga Drc. (41 a). Thorax and forewing dark brown. The proximal white line extends from y 3 kolga. 
of the hind-margin oblicpiely distad to vein 2, then to the base of vein 3 and from % of the costal margin along 
the latter almost to the base. On the cross-vein a white streak posteriorly extended into a spot. The distal 
line with white spots on the veins, between them fine and distally convex. At the costal margin it is stronger 
and surrounded with white scales and the costal margin is slightly strewn with white. Hindwing varying from 
brown to reddish-brown. Under surface lighter brown. On both wings a white uniformly curved distal line. 
- In pruirtosa Griinbg. there is at the beginning of this line, on the forewing beneath, an oval yellow spot, pruinosa. 
and the same place is also above somewhat more yellow than in the nomenclatural form. On the hindwing 
beneath below vein 2 before the white line a black spot. 34 to 50 mm. Cameroon, South Africa. Apparently 
very common. Larva very similar to that of Oc. signicosta in the shape and marking, living in nests on species 
of Ficus. Cocoon thin and dark flesh-coloured. Eggs arranged as in Ocinara. 
2. Genus: Ocinara Wkr. 
Shape of wings quite similar to the preceding genus, but on the hindwing the anal angle is somewhat 
more produced. Neuration of forewing: vein 6 on a short stalk with veins 10 + 9 + 8 + 7. In the hindwing 
veins 6 and 7 are stalked. On the forewing 2 hindmarginal veins, on the hindwing 3. Some specimens exhibit 
the distal margin of the forewing somewhat inserted below the apex, but most of them not. The species hitherto 
described are all of about the same size, with indistinct markings, and similar, only 1 species being white. In 
the others the hind-margin of the more or less brown hindwing is dark brown with short white streaks. Type: 
dilectula Wkr. from Java. — As to the Asiatic species, cf. Vol. II, p. 191, and Vol. X, p. 437. 
a) With a strong black streak at the cross-vein of forewing. 
O. ruficollis Strd. (41 a). Thorax whitish, collar red-brown, abdomen fawn-coloured. Forewing light ruficollis. 
greyish-brown, powdered with brown. The basal line projects far distad at vein 2, its lower portion inside 
with a broad red-brown spot. Before the centre of the costal margin there is a feeble brown spot, and an 
antemedian one and a postmedian one in place of the proximal and distal lines. Undulating line rather distinct, 
between the veins distally convex. At the apex a brown streak. Distal margin behind cell with a dark shadow. 
