654 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



In this family the antennas are either strictly filiform or slightly 

 thickened in the middle; the ocelli are wanting; the palpi project 



horizontally, and are 

 somewhat longer than 

 the head; and the max- 

 illag are strongly de- 

 veloped. The venation 

 of the wings of Thyris is 

 represented by Figure 

 803. Here all of the 

 branches of radius of the 

 fore wings are present 

 and each arises from the 

 discal cell. This is a 

 rather unusual condition, 

 but it occurs in the next 

 family, in certain genera 

 of other families of moths, 

 and in the skippers. In 

 one of our thyridids, 

 Meskea, which is found 

 in the Gulf States, veins 

 R3 and R4 are stalked. 



This family is poorly 

 represented in our fauna, 

 only eleven species, rep- 

 resenting six genera have been described from the United States. 



The spotted thyris, Thyris maculdta. — This is the most common 



representative of this family in the 



Eastern and Middle States and it 



occurs also in the West. This 



species (Fig. 804) is brownish black, 



sprinkled with rust-yellow dots; 



the outer margin of the wings, es- 

 pecially of the hind wings, is deeply 



scalloped, with the edges of the 

 indentations white. There is on each wing a translucent white spot, 

 that of the hind wing is larger, kidney-shaped, and almost divided 

 in two. 



The mournful thyris, Thyris lugHbris. — This is a larger species 

 found in the Southern States and as far north as New York. It can 

 be recognized by Figure 805. It is brownish black, marked with 

 yellow, and with the translucent spots yellowish. The larva is said 

 to infest grape. 



Dysodia oculatdna. —This is a yellow and brown species, with a 

 single translucent spot in each wing; those of the hind wings are 

 crescentic. The larvs'; infest various flowers and seeds, and beans. 



Fig. 803. — Wings of Thyris maculata. 



Fig. 804.- 

 Thyris mtc 

 ulata. 



Fig. 805.- 

 lugubris. 



-Thyris 



