RKVISIOX OF SPKCIES OF THE GENUS AGROTIS. 89 



suddenly appeared in enormous numbers a larva whicli was soon called 

 the "black army worm," and when bred, disclosed this species. The 

 invasion seems to have ceased as suddenly as it came. 



Noctua plecta Linn. 



ITfil. IJnn., Fm. Siici., IVJl Xorlmi. 



17<)7. Linn., Syst. Nat. cd xii, ii, sr>l Xnclna. 



I'^U). Hiihner, V<Mzi'i(!liiiiss, 2'2'.^ Ochnijilfiird. 



ISfvi. Gn., Noct., I, :VM> Xorlmi. 



1856. Wlk., C. H. Mils. Lcp. \., UtC <)<l,n>i,1eiiia. 



1862. Grt., Proc. Ent. Soo. IMiil. i, 21^ Chtrmtis. 



1874. MoiT., r.syclu', i, 22 Afiroiis. 



18H9. Bntl. Trans. Ent. Soc. LoiuL iss;), :{H1, QrUvoplcnru. 



Briji'ht carmine or lake to deep red brown ; costa yellowi.sh wliite, 

 sprinkled with carmines scales j a black siiade iVoni base thronyh cell 

 to its termination. Transverse lines wantin*;-, s. t. line usually distinct, 

 always traceable, i)ale, sinuate, variably distant from mnrgin. Ordi- 

 nary spots small, delined by narrow white annul! ; orbicular round or 

 but slig^htly ovate, center rather <larker than ground color. Ueniform 

 lunate entirely powdered with white. Secondaries white, outwardly 

 more or less powdered with dusky. Beneath whitish, margins very 

 strongly powdered with re<l — on secondaries anterior margin only — 

 a common dusky extradiscal line, venular on secondaries; discal lunide 

 more or less evident, sometimes wanting. 



Expands 29""", 1.15 inches. 



Habitat. — Canada to Texas, eastern United States, Europe. 



This little species is so well marked, and .so unlike any other species 

 thatitwouldnotbeeasy to mistake it. Tliebiight(;oior, contrastingcosta 

 and small size are not paralleled elsewhere in the genus. Mr. Butler 

 says Oehropleura Hbn. is a mere group of vl)//af//r.s' llbn., and cites (). 

 vicaria Wlk., Lep. llet. x, 400 as .synonymous. 



Noctiia collaris G. and U. 



1866, Grt, and Rob. Trans. Am, Ent. Soc. I, 'M;^, pL 7, f. .''):l, .Igrolis. 



Smoky dark fuscous, sometimes paler carneous gray, with a purplish 

 tinge. All before ami between the ordinary s[)ots, bright velvety 

 black. The transverse lines are very regular, even, pale gray. S. t. 

 space a little darker and by the contrast in color with terminal space, 

 detining the s. t. line, which is irregularly sinuate and dentate. Clavi- 

 form faintly indicated. Ordinary spots pale ringed, else (joncolorous. 

 Orbicular variable in size and shai)e, oj)en sui)eriorIy. lieniform 

 variable in size and shape, usually kidney shaped. Secondaries fusco- 

 luteous, uniform. Beneath jiowdery, with traceable carneous line and 

 discal lunule. Head superiorly jyul collar rich, deep i)urplish black: 

 thorax else coucolorons. 



Expands 31-34"""; l.L'a-l.a.") inches. 



Habitat. — New York, northward to Canada. 



