AUTOBA; SOPHTHA. By Dr. M. Draudt. 
205 
P. confusa Bothsch. is also similar to conistrota. Apex of forewings is more acute and more protracted confusa. 
than in cremorna, from which confusa also differs by the dark, divided apex and the rather more pronounced 
median fold. The forewings are rather more irregularly peppered with black and the subapical area is flushed 
with rusty yellow. Apex of forewings is divided by a dark oblique line. The median fold is especially dee]) 
and abnormally developed with a second shorter fold below, both heavily scaled with black. Hindwings darker 
grey with pale fringes. Wing expanse: 18—24 mm. Algiers. From April to June. 
P. lacteola Bothscli. is a completely milky white species, which differs from the other allied forms by the lacteolu. 
longer and narrower wing contour and extremely long fringes. Forewings entirely devoid of markings. 
Wing expanse: 31 mm. Algeria, captured in May. 
P. eburnea Trti. is related to virginalis. It is smaller and pure white, without any yellowish tone, com- rburnca. 
pletely without black dots and other markings, only the tips of scapulae are somewhat yellowish, as also are 
the antennae, abdomen and legs. Size is not indicated . From 1 specimen from Giarabub (Cyrenaica). Differing 
from albivestalis Hmps. by the somewhat narrower, longer wing contour, the absence of the discal spots and 
the costal shading on underside. This description leads one to think that it is identical with lacteola. 
P. arida Bothsch. is unknown to me, but should probably classified somewhere here. Head and collar arida. 
white, thorax pale grey, abdomen grey with pinkish yellow hue. Forewings pinkish yellow-brown. Hindwings 
creamy yellow, faintly flushed with rose. The outer margin of forewings very straight, not so rounded as in 
most of the other species. The $ is whiter, somewhat shaded towards the margin. Length of forewings: <$ 
11 mm, $ 10 mm. Algeria, southwards of El Golea. 
P. ernesti Bothsch. is also unknown to me. Antennae white on top, brown below. Head, thorax and emesti. 
abdomen white. Forewings white with grey spot at end of cell and a submarginal row of minute black dots. 
Hindwings yellowish white. Wing expanse: 25.5—28.5 mm. Algeria (Oued N§a), April. 
P. pemivea Bothsch. is also a pure snow-white species completely devoid of markings, but much smaller pernivea. 
and with wider wings than the previous species. Wing expanse: 22 mm. Algeria (Ain Sefra, Sebdou, Les Pins) 
occurring from May to September. Nothing definite can yet be said as to whether all these small white, very 
similar moths, which are no doubt subject to considerable variation in size, can claim a right to specific rank. 
P. crocea Bothsch. Head dark yellow, thorax and abdomen somewhat paler and more reddish. Fore- crocea. 
wings saffron-yellow, devoid of markings, hindwings yellowish white. Wing expanse: 20 mm. This species 
was held to be a brilliantly coloured aberration of deserta Stgr. (Vol. 3, p. 269, pi. 51 i). It was captured in April 
at Ain Tahart (Algeria). 
P. leucanides Stgr. (Vol. 3, p. 269, pi. 51 i). The illustration is not recognisable. A better one is given leucanides. 
here (23 a). 
P. suppuncta Stgr. (Vol. 3, p. 269, pi. 51 h). Here also the illustration was poor and a better one is now suppuncta. 
given (23 a). 
10a. Genus: Auioba Wkr. 
Owing to a mistake, the number 10 was duplicated in the Main Volume for this Genus. 
A. sabulosa Bothsch. is related to gayneri Bothsch. (Vol. 3, p. 270). Head, thorax and abdomen are sandy sabulosa. 
yellow, similarly the forewings, which are shaded slightly darker. Before the centre there is an indistinct rusty 
brown line and beyond a wide distinct fuscous band. The latter extends upwards only to the subcostalis. There 
is a subterminal bluish grey-brown band and on the margin a row of black dots. Hindwings glossily silky yellowish 
white. Length of forewings: 14 mm. From 1 $ from south Oued Mya. 
A. gayneri Bothsch. ( Vol. 3, p. 270). We are now able to give an illustration of this small species (23 a), gayneri. 
It is very variable. I have specimens bred by Andres, which are of almost whitish ground colour, varying 
to dark cinnamon brown. The transverse lines are similarly variable, occasionally they have white outer edges, 
occasionally not, the discal spot is also variable and is sometimes isolated in a nebulous patch. There may 
also be a second black dot in centre of cell, so that the description would quite well apply to that of beraudi 
Joan. (Vol. 3, p. 270, pi. 51 m). As all these specimens were bred from larvae collected from one and the same 
tamarisk tree in the neighbourhood of Cairo, where they fed on Coccidae, 1 cannot bring myself to believe that 
there is any specific difference. In my opinion beraudi is merely the reddish form of the more whitish gayneri. 
16. Genus: Soplitha Wkr. 
S. infrarubra Strd. is related to the indian excisa Hmps. and ruficeps Wkr. (Vol. 1 1, p. 257, pi. 23 i, k). infrarubra. 
infrarubra differs from ruficeprs by the paler grey ground colour which is only faintly suffused with violet-lilac. 
