Cjjt tataMn Entomology. 



VOL. III. 



LONDON. ONT., SEPTEMBER, 1871. 



No. 6. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF LEPIDOPTERA FROM ALABAMA. 



BY AUG. R. GROTE. 



1 have collected the following Lepidoptera in the country about 

 Demopolis, Ala., lying at the junction of the Tombigbee and Black War- 

 rior Rivers, it has been my aim to make as complete a collection as 

 possible of the insects inhabiting this district, in which my residence has 

 been lately fixed, but the time at my disposal for the purpose has been 

 cruelly limited by other duties. The summer heats preclude much exertion 

 during the best part of the day. Nevertheless, a great many Butterflies 

 may be taken on the flowers of the wild mint and iron-weed, without much 

 trouble or exposure. Our commonest Butterfly everywhere is Tcrias 

 uicippc. Throughout the entire summer it swarms in myriads. It seems 

 to take the place here that Colias philodicc Alls in the Northern States. - 

 This latter 1 have never seen here ; J have taken a specimen of C. 

 Eurytheme. Papilla thoas is not uncommon, but its strong flight makes it 

 difficult to capture. P. ajax and P. philenor are common ; P. asterlasaxid 

 P. tumus are more infrequent ; the specimens I have seen of the latter are 

 large sized, the female always black (J J . glducus). ^'unouia coenia is very 

 common. 1 have seen no species of Argynnis, but one Eresia, while 

 Euptoieta claudia is frequently met with and I have reared it through all 

 its stages. Libythea bachtnanii is found in July and August on the banks 

 ol the rivers and about damp places on roads. Apaiura celt is is com- 

 monly seen. Limenitis Ursula more rarely. Callldryas Eubide becomes 

 plentiful at the beginning of August ; it is apparently double brooded. - 

 Meganostonia caesonla is infrequent. The commonest Hesperiid is Syricthus 

 oileus, while I have seen but a single specimen of Heteropteras mar^itiat 'us , 

 so common in the north. At some future time I hope to give a list of all 

 the Butterflies I have taken. in the Sphiftgida? I have only seen Sesia 

 (iiffhus, Darapsa niyro/i, CJuzrocampa tersa, Macrosila Carolina, M. 

 cingulata and Sphinx crcmitus. The Bombycidae seem very poor in 

 numbers and species, while the Noctuidae are exceedingly rich in both. 



