MEMOIKS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 87 



X.— SYSTEMATIC REVISION' 01- THE XOTODOXTIDJ., WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR 



TRANSFORMATIONS. 



Family NOTODONTID.E Stoplicns. 



Bomhi/citcs Div. Legitime (iu jiart) Latreille, Gen. Crust, et luseet, iv, ]>. 217, 1809. 

 Dimoipliw (iu part), PlUodoiites, Andria; et Alelnlophw Hiibu., Verz., iiji. 145, 117, 162, 1816. 

 Xutodonlidw Steph., 111. Brit. Ins. Haust. ii, p. 10, 1828. 

 2^'olodontw (in part) Newman, Spbiux vespiformis, p. 42, 1832. 



(in part) Duncan, in Brewster's Edin. Encycl., ix, \i. 131, 1833. 

 Notodontites (in part) Newm., Entomologist, May, ii, p. 383, 18.34, 

 Xotodoiiliden (in part) Boisd. Inil. MtHb. Lep. Eur., p. 84, 1.840. 



Vicraiiiirida' Xolodotitidw, et I'liyarida; Duponch., Cat. MiSth. Lep. Eur., pp. 86, 89, do, 1846. 

 Dicrunuridi Steph., Cat. Brit. Lep. Br. Mus., p. 38, 1850. 

 I'lilodontes Pack., Proc. Ent. See. Pliil.. iii, p. 351, 1804. 



Grote, New Check List N. .\mer. Moths, p. 18, 1882. 

 Notodonlidiv .Smith, List Le]). Bor. Amer., p. 29, 1891. 



Kirby, Syu. Cat. Lep. Het., i, p. 559, 1892. 



Dyar, Can. Ent., xxv, p. 121, May, 1893. 



Neumcegen anil Dyar, Trans. Amer. Eut. Soc. xxi, June, 1894, pp. 179-208. 

 Journ. N. Y. Eut. Soc, Sept., 1894, pp. 112-117. 



Family characters. — Uead sqiiaiisli iu fiout (when denuded), but in nature dcusely scaled, 

 often cre.sted between the antenna^. CIypeu.s large, sub.scutellate in shape, suddenly Harrowing 

 toward the labral region, which is slightly bent down; above, the clypeus is broad, the margin or 

 base being straight transversely, not hollowed out on each side for the reception of the antennie, 

 the hole for the insertion of the latter being very shallow; the surface of the clypeus either 

 somewhat convex or with a slight median elevation, terminating in the labral region. The 

 epicranium and o(_'ciput both very short, occupying a very short (in a longitudinal sense) regiou 

 behind the antenna? and eyes. 



Base of epicranium ridged. Antennre usually either wholly pectinated or pectinate on the 

 basal two-thirds; the joints scaled above, the branches generally six times as long as the joints; 

 in the 9 the antennre are simple, rarely with short pectinations. Maxillte vrell developed; the 

 maxillary palpi forming small papillie at thfe base of the maxilhTe. Labium indistinct, subtriangular, 

 small; the labial palpi well developed, either porrect and reaching the front, or ascending and 

 passing beyond the front (longest in Si/mmerista). 



Thorax with a detinite collar; the edge of the patagia distinct, often edged with dark scales, 

 and often a dorsal tuft. When denuded the prdthorax is seen to be small, much reduced in size; 

 the mesonotuni shorter than broad; the mesoscutellnm transversely subovate or lozenge-shaped; 

 the metathorax above veiy narrow, linear (in a transverse sense); metathoracic Hanks narrow, 

 half as wide as tho.se of the mesothorax. 



Wings: Fore wings narrow, noctuiform. about half as long as wide; costa either straight or 

 slightly convex; apex either jiointed or mui'h rounded; outer margin very oblique; inner margin 

 full near the base, with often a median tuft, the subcostal vein j)assing very near the costa 

 toward the apex; a subcostal cell often jn-esent; the discoidal or discal veins situated in the 

 middle of the wing. The last subcostal vein(IIlj) forms the independent vein. There are three 

 branches of the cubital vein, and these features wiU enable one in diflicult cases to determine 

 whether the moth is a Notodontian oi a Noctuid. 



Hind wings reaching two-thirds of the way to the end of the abdomen, attached to the fore 

 wings by a frenulum confined by a '• frenulum hook" or loop, situated on the vein; costa straight; 

 apex much rounded (compared with the Noctuidie); outer edge long, rounded, the costal vein 

 passing very near the subcostal, turning from it to the costa near the origin of the discal venules; 

 three branches of the cubital vein; two subcostal venules (II, IIIi). 



Legs rather short; femora and tibi;e usually densely pilose: fore tibiie sometimes (Loiihopteryx) 

 armed with a spur; hind tibite with two pairs of stout spurs. 



