316 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE TO THE SATURNIANS. 



BY A. RADCLIFFE GROTE, A. M., HILDESHEIM, GERMANY. 



Since writing my paper (Can. Ent., 263, ante*) I have been able to 

 examine a specimen of the Asiatic A. selene. The moth differs from luna, 

 chiefly in the pointed apices of fore wings, the outer margin sweeping 

 inwardly in an even curve. I cannot consider this character of generic 

 value, since precisely the same separates the South American Eacles 

 niagnifica from our E. iviperialis. In the same species of certain 

 Papilionides, a similar variation has been noted. The exterior bands 

 appear faintly also in certain examples oi lima, while the whiter colour is 

 shown by the variety Rossi. Whether this tendency to while is rever- 

 sionary in its nature, may be questioned. The tails are more developed 

 in the Asiatic species, but (without denuding) I cannot find any neura- 

 tional differences. I conclude, then, that Leach's term Actias is also 

 applicable to A. luna. On the other hand, the European isabellce seems 

 to admit of a distinct genus. This species is confined to a limited region 



of the Peninsula, and its geograpical isolation has apparently preserved 

 among its characters some which may have belonged to a more primitive 

 type of tailed Saturnians. The American and the Asiatic species would 

 be then nearer related, pointing to a different epoch of separation for the| 

 European form. The resemblance between the larvfe of polyphefnus \ 

 and Itma seems to warrant the association of the genera, and justify my I 

 disposition of the groups. I take it that the members of the Attacid _ 

 group : AttacKS, Fhiiosamia, Callosamia, are more highly specialized | 

 forms as compared with the Saturniid group: Samia, Sattirnia, Agapema. 

 These two groups would be nearer related in phylogenesis to each 

 other than to the Teleid group, which stands at some little distance. 

 Mr. Dyar writes me that in Telea, at the last stage, the larva shows a j 

 sparse coating of secondary hair, short and fine, most abundant at base 

 of legs. In hoia, on the contrary, the secondary hairs are most! 

 abundant dorsally, having enlarged ends, and are nearly entirely absent 

 subventrally, except on the foot itself. From this fact, and that of the ' 

 still greater reduction of the tubercles in /una, I am inclined to believe ' 

 Actias the more specialized form, as compared with Telea ; this view i 

 seems to be sustained by the moth stage and would bear out the position 

 assigned to the genera in a linear series. It seems, then, probable that j 

 Actias and Telea represent a lateral branch of the family stem and that they 

 have pursued to some extent a parallel development. This is shown by 

 the greater uniformity in colour, the absence of contrasting ornamentation 1 

 in the larvae. In all stages these moths rely on protective resemblances,] 

 needed by insects so large and apparently so very helpless. 



*0n page 263, ante, foot-note, for "Xyloicus" read "Hyloicus." 



