BOTYS (DESMIA?) SERICEA. Alis sericeis viridi-margaritaceis, anticarum
margine antico luteo. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 3 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Pyralis) Sericea, _Drury_, _App. vol._ 2.
HABITAT: Gold Coast of Africa.
_Upper Side._ Head light green. Eyes black. Antennæ thread-like, and very
long; appearing at the middle as if they had been broken, and had
branched out again to their proper length. Thorax and abdomen light
green. Tail dark brown. Wings fine light green, almost transparent, and
resembling mother of pearl. Anterior edges of the anterior wings pale
orange-coloured.
{12}_Under Side._ Palpi, neck, breast, abdomen, and legs light green;
except the anterior tibiæ, which are pale orange. Tail dark brown. Wings
of the same colour as on the upper side, immaculate. Wings entire.
The curious structure of the antennæ of this insect (which is, doubtless,
peculiar to the males alone) is very similar to that of Desmia maculalis,
(Westw. in Mag. Zool.) but the larger size, pearly wings, and different
quarters of the globe in which these two species are found, make it
doubtful whether the two insects belong strictly to the same subgenus. It
is evidently nearly allied to the British genus Margaritia. Mr. Smeathman
informed Drury that this is one of the Phalænæ which fly during the day. A
little noise or rustling disturbs it, when it takes rapid flights of twenty
or thirty yards, hiding itself with great ingenuity, which makes it
difficult to catch.