LEPIDOPTERA 



685 



Fig. 854.- 

 scabra. 



-Plathypenc 



There is a group of moths, the deltoids, which are placed at the 

 foot of this family on account of their apparent relationship to the 

 geometrids and to the pyralids. These moths are usually of dull 

 colors and of medium size. The name deltoids was suggested by the 

 triangular outline of the wings when at rest, which is well represented 

 by the Greek letter delta. When in this position the wings slope 

 much less than with other noctuids, the attitude being more like that 

 assumed by the geometrids; but the hind wings are more nearly 

 covered than with the geometrids. IVIany of the deltoids have very 

 long palpi, resembling in their size those of the pyralids. The del- 

 toids include the two following subfamilies. 



The subfamily Hypenin^. — A representative of this subfamily is 

 the following species. 



The green clover-worm, Plathypena scdbra. — This is a common 

 deltoid. The usual food-plant of the larva is clover, but it occasion- 

 ally defoliates peas, beans, and lima beans. 

 It is a slender green worm measuring when 

 full-grown 16 mm. in length and only about 

 2.5 mm. in width in its widest part; it has 

 a narrow subdorsal whitish line and a lateral 

 one of the same color. When ready to trans- 

 form it webs together several leaves and 

 passes the pupa state in the nest thus made. 

 The adult (Fig. 854) isa blackish brownmoth, 

 with an irregular grayish shade on the outer half of the fore wings, 

 and with very broad hind wings. The palpi, which are not well 

 shown in the figure, are long, wide, and flattened; they project 

 horizontally like a snout. 



The hop-vine deltoid, Hypena humuli.' — This species is closely 



allied to the preceding and has often been confounded with it. The 



larva feeds on the leaves of hop, and is sometimes a serious pest. 



The subfamily Herminiin^. — The following species will serve 



as an example of this subfamily. 



Epizcuxis luhricalis: — This is one of the most abundant of our 

 deltoids. In this species (Fig. 855) the fore 

 wings are chocolate-brown, crossed with 

 A'ellowish lines; the hind wings are much 

 lighter. The palpi are long; but they are 

 curved over the head, so that they appear 

 short when seen from above, as represented 

 in the figure. The larva feeds on dead leaves. 

 The subfamily Erebin^.— More than 120 

 species belonging to this subfamily are now 

 The three following will serve as examples. 

 The black witch, Erebus oddra.— This is the most magnificent in 

 size of all of the noctuids found in this country (Fig. 856). There is 

 much variation in the depth of coloring. The individual figured is a 

 female; in the male the fore wings are more pointed at the apex and 

 the median band is indistinct. It is a native of the West Indies; 

 but it is believed that it breeds in the extreme southern portion of 



^'^S- 855. — Epizeiixis luhri- 

 calis. 



listed from our fauna. 



