Psoloptera thoracica (Walker, 1854)

Walker, F. (1854). List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the
Collection of the British Museum, Part I, Lepidoptera Heterocera: p. 243.
(Original description, as Euchromia thoracica.)

70. Euchromia thoracica.

Albo guttata; caput nigrum; thorax rufus; abdomen cyaneum, subtus e
guttis albis univittatum; alae cyaneae, basi albo guttatae; pedes nigri,
tibiis basi subtus coxisque albo guttatis.

Head, thorax, and base of the abdomen with white dots. Head black.
Thorax very bright red. Wings dark blue, with white dots at the base.
Abdomen dark blue, with a row of white dots beneath. Legs black; tibiae
at the base beneath and coxae with white dots. Length of the body 4 1/2
lines; of the wings 15 lines.

a. Ega, on the Amazon. From Mr. Bates' collection.


Hampson, G. F. (1898). Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the
British Museum, vol. 1, Syntomidae: p. 285, text-fig. 183.

629. Psoloptera thoracica.

Euchromia thoracica, Wlk. i. 243 (1854); Butl. Ill. Het. i. p. 24, pl. 8.
f. 6; Druce, Biol. Centr.-Am., Het. i. p. 46; Kirby, Cat. Het. p. 127.

Blue-black; frons with a white bar; vertex of head with two white spots;
thorax crimson above; coxae and extremity of mid and hind femora with
white spots; abdomen with two white dorsal spots at base. Fore wing with
two white spots at base.

Hab. Panama (Walker), Godman-Salvin Coll.; Ecuador; Amazons, Ega
(Bates), type. Exp. 34 millim.


Draudt, M. (1915). Psoloptera. In: Seitz, A. (ed.), The Macrolepidoptera
of the World, vol. 6, The American Bombyces and Sphinges: p. 96, pl. 15 m.

P. thoracica Wkr. (15 m) has wings of a deep indigoblue lustre, a dark
carmine thorax, and white dots on the vertex, shoulders and first
abdominal ring. Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, East Colombia, Amazon, Peru.

The preceding species, which thoracica is set against, is described
thus (p. 96):

P. basifulva Schaus (= thoracica Druce) (15 m) differs from the
following species by its larger size, somewhat narrower wings and the
more orange-red colour of the thorax, which also extends to the base of
the wings. From Panama, also from Peru.