1893-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



the scrub-oaks; all of the Papilios were rather rare, and not a 

 single Colias or Argynnis was seen; with the exception of Pam- 

 phila maculata, P. arogos and P. Carolina, none of the Pamphike 

 mentioned were rare, and otho, acci^ls and vitellius, were quite 

 abundant. 



Of the moths, about seventy species were taken. Choerocampa 

 tersa occurred at flowers, and the larva was found feeding on 

 Diodia feres. At sugar, the larger Catocalae occurred sparingly, 

 ilia and cara being the only species taken; but elonympha came 

 in swarms, as did also Homoptera ediisa, Zale horrida and many 

 less common species. Exyra riding sii occurred as larvae, pupae 

 and perfect insects, in the large trumpet-shaped leaves of a spe- 

 cies of pitcher-plant (Sarracenia flava). These leaves or ' ' trum- 

 pets." are excellent traps for a great variety of insects. Coleop- 

 tera seem to predominate, and although the specimens in the 

 bottom of the "trumpet" are partly digested, and, as a rule, 

 unrecognizable, those near the top are often alive and in perfect 

 condition. The largest moth taken from one of these natural 

 traps was Agrotis ypsilon, and smaller species were of frequent 

 occurrence. 



The suggestion made by Dr. E. Kunze (ENT. NEWS, vol. ii, 

 p. 174) that collectors should plant Clcthra alnifolia in their gar- 

 dens is certainly a good one, for the blossoms of this plant are 

 not only attractive to swarms of clay-flying insects, but are also 

 visited by many more at night. 



-o- 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. 



LEPIDOPTERA-HETEROCERA ( Moths). 

 By Prof. JOHN B. SMITH, New Brunswick, N. J. 



Next in order in our lists follows the Noctuid series, comprising 

 the Thyatiridae, Noctuidae and Breprmkr, the former a link to the 

 Bombyces, the latter to the Geometridae. In a general way these 

 families agree in venation, but there is not otherwise any very 

 strong band of union between them. 



The Thyatiridae have a moderately robust body with a com- 

 paratively short thorax, long abdomen and largo wings, resem- 

 bling the Notodontidse quite stnngly in these features. The 

 thoracic tutting is evident in most cases, shouing a very decided 



