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56 Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society
species are definitely distinct. The habitus of G. ovaliger (Blanchard, 1975, Figs. 1-4) is quite different from that of G. stictella (this paper, Fig. 1 and Shaffer, 1968, Fig. 23). The differences between their male genitalia are not so obvious. Fig. 2 shows the genitalia of G. stictella prepared in the conventional manner. In Fig. 3 they are prepared in the manner favored by Shaffer (1968, page 3). Figs. 4 (stictella) and 5 (ovaliger) show the enlarged gnathos and the webs or ribs which support its apical process from beneath; this is where the most obvious difference between the two species is to be found. Dr. Shaffer, who had the opportunity to look at many more specimens than I had, gave me the following information: "These ribs are provided in ovaliger with a double row of teeth (two or three to six in each row). In stictella the number of teeth per row varies from zero to two. Counting is complicated by the fact that in both species the size of the teeth varies from large and well developed ones to tiny, barely discernible nubbins."
Literature Cited
Blanchard, A. 1975. A new phycitine genus and species (Pyraloidea). J. Lepid.
Soc. 29: 95-97. Shaffer, J. C. 1968. A revision of the Peoriinae and Anerastiinae (Auctorum) of
America north of Mexico. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 280, 124 p.
Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 32(1), 1978, 56
PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR IN AMPLYPTERUS GANNASCUS (SPHINGIDAE)
During August 1974, I spent about two weeks collecting Lepidoptera on the grounds of the Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences, approximately 45 km SE of San Jose, Costa Rica (near the town of Turrialba). On two separate occasions I witnessed an interesting behavioral response in the sphingid Amplypterus gannascus (Stoll), which was common in the area. A few gannascus would sometimes remain resting high up on the whitewashed walls of the Institute buildings until about 1000, having been attracted to these sites by the lights on the buildings the night before. In two cases it was possible to touch individuals by means of tossing a multi-segmented net about twelve feet long at them. The individuals responded to being touched by releasing their grip and sailing slowly to the ground in a slow spiralling descent, with their wings held rigidly in a swept-back V position. Once on the ground the moths remained passive in spite of being nudged, and only attempted to escape after being seized by hand. The appearance of this behavior was strikingly similar to the appearance of a dead leaf wafting to the ground from a tree, and would seem to be a behavioral adaptation to escape predators by imitating an unappetizing plant fragment.
Jeff Robb, Department of Museum Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79403.