In this paper, I am going to deal with four related genera of Thyatiridae: Demopsestis MATSUMURA, 1927, Takapsestis MATSUMURA, 1933, Neoploca MATSUMURA, 1927, and Asphalia HUBNER, [1821]. Demopsestis, Takapsestis and Neoploca were each established for the reception of a single species, viz. Asphalia punctigera BUTLER, 1885, Takapsestis wilemaniella MATSUMURA, 1933, and Xylina arctipennis BUTLER, 1878, respectively. Asphalia was proposed for the two European species, Noctua diluta [DENIS et SCHIFFERMULLER], 1775, and Noctua ruficollis [DENIS et SCHIFFERMULLER], 1775, and the latter was subsequently designated as the type-species of Asphalia by HARVEY, 1874. These genera have not been revised and the name Asphalia is not currently used by European authors, who consider it a junior synonym of Polyploca HUBNER, [1821]. "A." diluta is now treated as a sole member of the genus Cymatophorima SPULER, 1908. No further species has ever been included in the above genera. Through the kindness of Mr. M. R. HONEY of the British Museum (Natural History), London, I could study the photos of the male genitalia of several Thyatiridae described under the genera Polyploca or Palimpsestis HUBNER, [1821], and I learned that some of them should correctly be transferred into the genus Takapsestis. During my collecting trip to Taiwan, I obtained a fairly long series of specimens belonging to an undescribed species of the genus Demopsestis. The genus Epipsestis MATSUMURA, 1921, is also related to the genera discussed here, and it was mentioned by me in another paper (YOSHIMOTO, 1982).
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