THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 123 



specimen from the Black Mountains, N.C., (W. Beutenmuller), 

 also a pair from Elizabeth, N.J., (O. Buchholz), are referred to this 

 species. Type locality, Roslyn, Va. A male type is with the 

 author, also four paratypes which may later be distributed. In 

 coloration the species is near cataphracta, indeed were the early 

 stages unknown it would easily pass as the white-marked variety 

 cataphracta fluxa. In the structure of the genitalia it seems nearest 

 merriccata and may find a serial position near that species. 



Polymnia larvae do not depart from the typical feeding habits. 

 The hibernated ova doubtless hatch about the last week of May, 

 and the plant is entered well up the stem at some tender point. 

 When in luxuriant plants, whose height attains seven feet at times, 

 the gallery is at some midway portion; in small plants it may finally 

 reach the root crown by maturity. While the stem has a slight 

 hollow core and though the walls are heavy, feeding continues at 

 one point long enough for the plant to produce a noticeable swelling 

 that gives ready intimation of a contained host. No parasites 

 were encountered, but a heavy mortality resulted from fungus in- 

 fection, probably the same as occurs with speciosissima, as the 

 coloration and effects seem identical. The gallery is abandoned 

 at maturity, and in confinement a pupal cell is formed about two 

 inches underground. Larvae, at the latitude of Washington, leave 

 the plants Aug. 1 to 10. 



Larval observations have been made from June 15 onward, 

 and the following instars noted. 



Stage IV. — Head polished, honey yellow, obliquely marked at 

 ocelli with a black line; body colour pale brown, with a more or less 

 pinkish tone. The dbrsal is a continuous stripe from cervical 

 shield to anal plate; the sub-dorsal and sub-stigmatal are continuous 

 on thoracic segments to the middle of joint three, thence interrupted 

 to the middle of joint seven where it continues to the plates of joint 

 thirteen, this break being productive of the girdled appearance 

 common to the genus. These markings are yellowish white, the 

 sub-stigmatal on the abdominal joints merging into the yellow 

 white of these segments ventrally. Cervical shield laterally edged 

 with black; anal plates conspicuous; tubercles well defined though 

 small, all excepting IV smaller than a spiracle. On joint ten there 

 is evidence of IVa forming. 



