HEPIALUS. By M. Gaede. 
247 
26. Family: Hepialidae. 
By M. Gaede. 
1. Genus: Mepialus F. 
H. humuli L. (Vol. 2, p. 434, pi. 54 b, c). In districts where the species is common, it is relatively easy 
to secure a series of specimens showing widely different markings. Almost unicoloured $ specimens, devoid 
of markings are named dannenbergi Steph. The ground colour varies in all shades from pale yellow through dannen- 
brown to red, but these colour variations are not denominated, the lack of markings being the characteristic 
feature. — The name pusillus Steph. for small specimens is mentioned, merely for the sake of completeness. 
H. sylvinus L. (Vol. 2, p. 435, pi. 54 g). We have to add the name radiata Bod. In same the 2 normal 
pale bands are almost completely extinct and replaced by darker brown than the buff brown ground colour. 
The veins are very definitely marked with brown towards the outer margin and this creates an almost exotic 
impression. Hindwings faintly suffused with rose. Found in Belgium. — kruegeri Trti. is almost certainly kruegeri. 
only a form of sylvinus. The apex of forewings is slightly more acute. The terminations of both white bands 
are more closely approximated on the inner margin. The triangular pale spot in centre of costa has at its lower 
angle a sharper point than in sylvinus, where it is usually more or less rounded off. Occasionally this triangular 
mark is even entirely absent in sylvinus. In the ^ the outer band is scarcely forked at costa, there is only 
a faint projection outwardly. In sylvinus on the other hand both branches are more or less equally long. Ficuzza 
(Palermo) and Bulgaria. — victoriae Petkow. Ground colour of the rusty reel, the white markings consider- victoriae. 
ably enwidened. The two main lines that form bands in this form, are widely conjoined at inner margin. The 
submarginal band is forked at costa. The small “V” marking of typical sylvinus is also much wider and extends 
to costa. By this means a patch of the ground colour is quite isolated at costa between its branches. Hindwings 
approximately as in typical specimens. Bulgaria. 
H. tunetanus Oberih. Thorax and forewings reddish brown, abdomen and hindwings similarly but slightly tunetanus. 
paler. Fringes without checks or blotches, d 32 mm. Tunis. Perhaps this is related to fusconebulosa-gallicus 
and aemilianus (Vol. 2, p. 434 and 435), which are also almost devoid of markings. 
H. amasinus H.-Schtiff. Ground colour brownish yellow, darker at base and in marginal area. The amasinus. 
2 white transverse lines are narrow and distinct. The inner line commencing just before the centre of inner 
margin proceeds somewhat inwards to the centre of wings s then at a rectangle outwards, the upper branch 
being about as long as the lower one. The outer line from two-thirds of inner margin extends in an almost 
straight line to near the apex. At costa and before the outer margin there ai'e short white streaks, that border 
on brown semicircular marks. Hindwings grey-brown. G 24 mm. Asia Minor. This species has for long been 
the subject of misconception and even Pfitzxer had quite a different species in his mind, when dealing with 
the species in Vol. 2, p. 435, pi. 54 e, as was recently ascertained by Pfeiffer. Refer also in this regard to 
the following species. 
H. adriaticus Pfeijf. This is the name that appertains to the species that has hitherto been wrongly adriaticus. 
referred to in books and classified in collections as amasinus. If one compares the original and recent descrip¬ 
tions of amasinus, one will observe considerable divergences. The genuine amasinus is actually so far only to 
be found in Asia Minor. Whether specimens reported from Greece and Sicily belong to same or to adriaticus, 
has yet to be definitely ascertained. Most of the incorrect amasinus, which now have to be re-classified adria¬ 
ticus, originate from Istria and Dalmatia. 
H. ganna Hbn. (Vol. 2, p. 436, pi. 54 f.) It was already mentioned in Vol. 2, that the spots of the bands 
are often isolated. Extreme specimens in which only vestiges of these spots are retained, are named reducta reducta. 
Deutsch. — confluens Helliv. is a name given to inversely marked specimens in which the dentate spots are confluens. 
expanded, becoming confluent in all directions. 
H. hecta L. (Vol. 2, p. 436, pi. 54 g) Sometimes small silvery white spots occur at outer margin of fore¬ 
wings over the inner angle. If these spots extend along the entire margin and if they are fairly large, the form 
