natural, history

Luceria icasta sp.n. (Figs. 12, 13,49)Rennell I., Hutuna, 24. xi. 1953, (J. D. BRADLEY), holotype J.Rennelll., Tingoa, 9-11. xi. 1953, (J. D. BRADLEY), allotype ~.Para types : Hutuna, 20; New Hebrides, Banks I., 1 O.Similar in size, colour and pattern to L. oculalis Moore (1887), which occurs fromthe Ar.daman Is. and Ceylon to Samoa and Rapa I. in the Pacific, but differing from itin external and genitalic structure. In oculalis the cilia of the male antennae are twiceas long as the diameter of the shaft; in icasta they are subequal to it; the antennae ofthe females of both species are minutely ciliate. In both sexes the second segment ofthe palpus of oculalis is twice as long as the third; in icasta the second segment is fourtimes as long as the third. The termen of the fore wing of icasta is less densely markedwith fuscous than that of ocu/a/is.Genitalia. Male. Uncus weak. Valve with a broadly rounded apex; dorsal marginwith a sclerotized fold medially; ventral margin with a short, stout, tapered process atthree-quarters projecting beyond the edge of the valve; a Y-shaped process is situatein the middle of the inner surface. Aedeagus shaped as figured; vesica with a slender,scobinate ridge, one-sixth as long as the aedeagus.In ocu/alis the process at three-quarters of the ventral margin is slender and sigmoid;the aedeagus is slender and tapered apicad.Female. Ductus bursae membranous and ribbed, right-angled at middle. Bursacopulatrix membranous, the posterior half cylindrical, the anterior half pyriform witha single thorn-like signum.In oculalis (fig. 51) the ductus bursae is cylindrical, three times as long as broadand strongly sclerotized. The membranous bursa copulatrix is ovate with a signumsimilar to that of icasta.L. .;casta is probably most closely related to L. opiliusa/is Walker (1859), which isknown only from three specimens from Sarawak, which are in the University Museumat Oxford. In colour the type of opi/iusalis is similar to ocula/is but the the distalquarter of the costa and the termen of the fore wing are even more strongly suffusedwith bister.In the male genitalia the process at three-quarters of the valve is shorter, extendingonly so far as the margin instead of beyond it; the Y -shaped process at mid-valve hasthe arms weak, short and tapered. The cornutus is similar to that of icasla but is arcuateand one-quarter as long as the aedeagus.Schrankia dodunograpba sp.n. (Figs. 10, II, 70, 71)Rennelll., Hutuna, 8. xi. 1953, (J. D. BRADLEY), holotype 0'.Paratypes: type locality, 53.o 12-13 mm. Second segment of palpus equal in length to the diameter of the eyo,drab; third segment minute, cartridge buff with a drab bar medially. Antenna) ciliationtwice as long as the diameter of the shaft. Frons, head and thorax drab;.abdo-56