Vol. xxiv] 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 



223 



very high tide covered the meadows, and as we stood in water 

 to our shoe tops while digging out a root containing several 

 larvae, we were forced to conclude that the term "atlantica" 

 as applied to our alleged insect by Prof. J. B. Smith, when he 

 separated our forms on genitalic characters, was well 

 chosen. If one might stand in the Atlantic Ocean and pluck- 

 its larva, surely it was aptly named. In due course, however, 

 the moths appear, but instead of an Atlantic coast form we 

 find the only insect with which it tallies is the Kansan erepta. 

 Specimens were kindly compared by Sir G. F. Hampson with 

 the British Museum type, and he reports they differ only in 

 minor detail. While it may be hard to reconcile the habitats, 

 as Tripsacum occurs in Kansas we may assume erepta feeds 

 on it there, though it may be doubtful if a chain of the plants 

 now exists across the country that the species could yet enjoy 

 an uninterrupted range. Believing the local colonies are a 

 stable variety of the type form, the varietal name ryensis is 

 proposed for it. 



Apamea erepta ryensis, new variety. 



Head smooth in front, antenna of male finely ciliated, thoracic tuft- 

 ings normal. The ground color is straw yellow, occasionally becom- 

 ing more deeply ochreous in the primaries, powderings of wine-red or 

 brownish scales are more or less diffused thereon and frequently in- 

 terspersed with some black scales, the quantity of powderings pro- 

 ducing some variation. Basal line vague, antemedial line irregularly 



Male genitalia of Apamea erepta ryensis. 



