THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 239 



I cannot leave this subject witlioiit some mention of that interesting 

 form, P/iengodes. A {^"n years ago the writer found a larva of PJungodes 

 plumosa under a stone near Mount Tom, Massachusetts. It emitted light 

 of a brilliant blue colour at the sides of the body segments. Apparently 

 both the larva and the larviform female of some of the tropical species of 

 Fhengodes and related genera emit light of two colours, as has been 

 reported by a considerable number of observers. ^ In these forms the 

 head, or the region immediately behind it, glows in a brilliant red light, 

 while points along the body segments shine in a white, yellow, green or 

 blue light. Some of these forms are certainly the larviform females, but it 

 seems that the larva also emits exactly the same kinds of light. The 

 reader will find a most interesting account of these luminous forms, accom- 

 panied by many bibliographical references, in a paper by Dr. Erich Haase 

 in Deutsche Entomol. Zeitschrift, vol. 32, p. 145-167. The forms found 

 in North America appear to be rare, or at least very local, and our 

 knowledge of them is still very incomplete. It is to be hoped that observ- 

 ers will take every opportunity to make observations on these remarkable 

 forms. Gondot (Revue Zool., 1S43, P- ^7) states that the male Phen- 

 godes also is brilliantly luminous, and Haase asserts that the male of his 

 Fhengodes hierojiymi emits a greenish light from the under side of the 

 abdomen. The only male of Phengodes plumosa which the writer has 

 seen alive certainly gave forth no trace of light, though this does not prove 

 that it may not be luminous at certain times. This specimen was cap- 

 tured at twilight, near Holyoke, Mass., as it flew rapidly across a road 

 through the woods. The date of capture. May 30th, is at variance with 

 the observation of Thomas Say, published in the Boston Journal of 

 Natural History, vol. i, p. 157. Under Phengodes plumosa he there 

 remarks: "Not uncommon for a short period in the autumn. Attracted 

 by the candle, they enter the house in the evening and fly repeatedly 

 against the ceiling in their efforts to escape." 



THE GENUS VENUSIA AND ITS INCLUDED SPECIES.* 



BV GEORGE W. TAYLOR, WELLINGTON, B. C. 



Probably everyone will agree with Dr. Pearsall's remarks in the April 

 number of this journal as to the necessity for a revision of the North 

 American Geometrid?e. The whole group is in a sad state of disorder; 

 the old species are not all well understood and many of the newer ones 



*See Pearsall, Canadian Entomologist, XXXVII, 125, April, igos. 



