S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 62. (Budapest, 2001)
the superficial similarity of modestaria with the real members of Selidosema HQbncr, 1823, although the structure of the antenna of these species shows clear differences. The genus Contropis was erected by Wiltshire (1967) for the newly described C. tagana from Afghanistan. The genus was interpreted by him as related to Ectropis Hübner, (1825). The studies on the external and genital features revealed that the three different populations belong to the same species. The range of the individual variation of the external characteristics is rather large also within populations showing no strict geographic segregation, although the population from Afghanistan is a bit more remote from the two others. The relatively simple male genitalia display also a stronger variation, especially in the shape of the valva (Figs 5-8). Thus, C. tagana is a secondary synonym of "S. " modestaria (syn. n.). The morphological features of the species clearly show that modestaria cannot be a member of the genus Selidosema. Externally, it shows some similarity with the Selidosema species, but is generally smaller in size (wingspan of modestaria 25-31 mm, while that of brunnearia is 30-35 mm), the antenna of males is with significantly shorter pectination. The most conspicuous differences of the male genitalia of modestaria, comparing with the Selidosema species, are the presence of the ribbon-like, rather broad gnathos, the narrow, very simple, apically tapering valva, the less sclerotized costa and the more or less rounded apex. In case of the of the Selidosema species the ground plan of the genital capsula (Fig. 10) is much more complicated, the valva is broader, the costa strongly sclerotized, forming a broad, rounded subapical lobe over the valval plate, covered with short but strong spines on dorsal surface; gnathos absent. The concept of Wiltshire to place this species into a monotypic genus appears to be correct but its closer relationship with the genus Ectropis is more than disputable. The external appearence and the simplified male genitalia evidently show the closer connection with the members of the tribe Bistonini, representing the sister-group of the genus Agriopis Hübner, (1825) (Fig. 9). The lack of the female from the different collectings, where the males were sometimes found in larger numbers, may refer to its partly or fully reduced wings which is characteristic of most Bistonini species. Contropis differs from Agriopis principally by the much longer pectination of the male antenna. The postmedial line, being characteristic of the Agriopis species, is absent in Contropis, represented only by some pale spots, and the discal spot of the fore wing is much stronger, sharply defined. The male genitalia of the two genera are often highly similar, especially those of C. modestaria and A bajaria (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), but the valvae of C. modestaria are significantly longer, more tapering, with narrower, more pointed apical part. The imagines are on the wing from the beginning of September till the middle of October. In Kazakhstan C. modestaria flies together with A. bajaria, but its flight period is finishing after the first stronger frosts, while that of A. bajaria is continuing. In Turkmenistan C. modestaria appears about 2-3 weeks earlier than A. bajaria. In summary, the genus Contropis remained as monotypic, containing a widespread autumnal species, the synonymy of which is as follows:
