The history of the generic term Pseudanarta is as follows:

1878. Grote, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. 178: crocea (flava) sole species, and therefore type.

1882. Grote, New Check List, New York, 27: flava, var. crocea, singula flavidens, aurea. The genus is credited without citation to Hy. Edwards, under the mistaken idea, derived from a previous correspondece, that this writer had used or described the genus. The name Pseudanarta was originally proposed in letters by Grote for Edwards's Anarta crocea, in which the eyes are naked, the tibiæ unarmed, and which is, in reality, as originally state by Grote, allied to Hadena, Led., nec Schrank.