278 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



PREPARATORY STAGES OF ALYPIA LANGTONII, COUPER. 



BY HARRISON G. DYAR, PH. D., NEW YORK. 



This larva is a close ally o( A. odomaciilata. but differs from it in the 

 pale head, the black bands broken in the subdorsal region, the small size 

 of the subventral white spots and the absence of the conical tubercles 

 which are represented by black spots. The food plant is the fireweed 

 { Epilobium august if ol item ). 



Egg. — Laid singly on the under side of a leaf close to the projecting 

 midrib. Flat at base, low conoidal, a little pointed at apex ; micropyle 

 depressed, surrounded by two concentric rings, granular-reticulate ; from 

 the outer ring a series of round-beaded ridges run to the under surface. 

 These ridges under a Zeiss C objective appear as a series of rounded 

 granules, but they alternate on successive ones so that the grooves 

 between them are wavy as usual in the Noctuidfe. Micropyle a circular 

 cup-shaped area of one circle of cells radiating from its centre, its edge 

 forming the first ring. From this the ridges pass gently over the outer 

 ring, becoming more distinct and increasing in number by the interpo- 

 lation of others, confluent in pairs, but not marked on account of their 

 granular structure. Diameter, 0.55 mm.] height, 0.3 mm. Colour whitish, 

 not shining, marked with dark red-brown in an irregular blotched ring or 

 broken spots, different in each egg. Duration of the stage, 9 days. 



First Stage. — After hatching the larvae walk with a looping gait, but 

 soon begin to feed. They readily fall off by a thread when disturbed. 

 Head bilobed, pale brown ; width, 0.4 mm. Body yellowish-whitish, 

 cervical shield, anal and leg plates blackish. Tubercles normal, brown, 

 mostly minute, but those on joints 5-7 and 11 surrounded by large spots, 

 those on joint 12 with small spots. Thoracic feet dark. Joint 12 

 enlarged, tubercles i. and ii. forming a square on it. Tubercle vi. absent, 

 three setae on the leg plates. 



Second Stage. — At first as before; width of head, 0.5 mm. Body 

 more brown spotted. Setae fine, pointed, tubercles black, the sub- 

 primaries (iii. and v. on thorax and vi. on abdomen) present. Anterior 

 two pair of abdominal feet a little smaller than the others. Later the 

 tubercles are black, conic, irregular in size, the brown marks around them 

 slight. Tiie body appears green from the contained food. A dorsal line 

 of irregular opaque white shadings. 



Third Stage.— Large, black, conical tubercles with pale setae. Body 

 greenish, blotched with opaque white, especially dorsally ; a few brown 



