LEPIDOPTERA 669 



are two broods ; the first brood infests the vines during June ; the 

 second, in the autumn and early spring, wintering as larvce. 



The spear-marked black, Rheuni- 

 dptera hastdta.- — This is a black-and- 

 white species, which is found from the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific. It is much 

 larger than the white-striped black 

 described above, expanding 35 mm. 

 It is black, striped and spotted with 

 white ; It varies greatly as to the num- 

 ber and extent of the white markings . 

 The most constant mark is a broad 

 white band crossing the middle of the 

 fore wings, and often continued across 

 the hind wings. Near the middle of its 

 course on the fore wing this band makes 

 a sharp angle pointing outward; and 

 just beyond the apex of this angle there 

 is usually a white spot. This spot and 

 angular band together form a mark 

 shaped something like the head of a 

 spear. In some individuals the white 

 predominates, other individuals are al- 

 most entirely black, excepting the spear 

 mark. In the East, there is more white 

 on the fore wings than on the hind 

 wings; this form is the variety gothi- 

 cdta; in some parts of the West and in 

 Europe there is more white on the hind 

 wings than on the fore wings. Accord- 

 ing to European authorities the larva 

 is brown or blackish brown, with a 

 darker line along the middle of the 

 back, and a row of horse-shoe-shaped 

 spots on the sides. It feeds on birch 

 and sweet gale. It is gregarious, a 

 colony of larvae spinning together the 

 leaves of the food-plant, and thus forming a nest within which they 



live and feed. 



The larva has 



not yet been 



observed in 



this country. 

 The beg- 



Fig. 828. — Lygris diversilineala. One of the 

 most delicate- 

 winged moths that we have in the northern Atlantic States is this 



Fig. 827. — Eggs and nest of Calo- 

 calpe undidata. 



Fig. 829. — Eudule mendica. 



