196 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '08 



Packard's Eupithecias. 



BY L. W. SWETT. 

 Eupithecia palpata. 



This species has been discussed by Rev. G. W. Taylor and 

 Mr. J. Grossbeck in the ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS and Canadian 

 Entomologist. About two years ago my esteemed friend, Dr. 

 Russel of Winchendon, Mass., sent me about twenty-five of 

 this species and I took them to Cambridge to compare with 

 the type of Eupithecia luteata under which name Packard 

 listed it as a synonym. The type of luteata was there with the 

 correct label, a male in poor condition, also palpata $ Bruns- 

 wick, Maine, but no other type specimens. I found that pal- 

 pata had longer palpi than luteata but was rubbed so that I 

 didn't want to be positive. I communicated with Dr. Taylor 

 and Mr. Grossbeck and told them what I found. Shortly after- 

 wards I received a specimen of palpata labelled ornata Hulst, 

 from Dr. Taylor with the locality Penn., but agreeing with 

 my specimens except that the fringe was slightly darker. A 

 little while after, I received a second letter from Dr. Taylor 

 saying that he agreed with me as to palpata and that Hulst 

 had identified incorrectly that species as his ornata which was 

 not like the true ornata Hulst. So matters began to clear and 

 Dr. Taylor and Mr. Grossbeck were entirely correct in their 

 articles, though I am afraid I influenced them somewhat 

 by being unwilling to separate the two at first, even though 

 it was I who first noted the structural differences. On my 

 last trip to Albany I found the remaining types of Eupithecia 

 palpata male and female agreeing with the Maine type at Cam- 

 bridge but much larger. The Albany types bear the label 

 Eupithecia palpata and below E. luteata, showing that Pack- 

 ard was uncertain of his species. Now being sure that I 

 had palpata correct as I knew all the types I went to Cambridge 

 and made minute comparisons. Eup. luteata is badly rubbed 

 but can be separated from palpata as follows : palpi of luteata 

 short, scarcely beyond head, extra discal line angulated be- 

 low costa the median portion is rubbed but I believe a line 

 must have run through discal spot once, for on the inner 



