238 REVISION OF MAMESTRA SMITH. 



Six specimens are in the study series, others in the duplicate material. 

 Localities: Maine, Indiana (J. B. S.); New York (Ace. 14077); Sche- 

 nectady, New York, August 9 (C. V. E); Albany, New York, ex larva, 

 May 1-4 (larva on Solidago); Sharon, New York, August 10 (Meske); 

 Philadelphia (C. V. E.). 



A very pretty and strongly marked species, not easily mistaken for 

 any other. The black color and contrasting white maculation are 

 unique. 



The harpes of male are chitinous at base, with a broad, irregular, 

 inferior projection, beyond which they become suddenly narrower before 

 the dilated tip, which has the inferior edge acute and is inwardly spinu- 

 lated. The true clasper is chitinous, rather short, and moderately 

 curved. 



Mamestra variolata Smith. 



1887. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., x, 467 ; Mamestra. 



Luteous, somewhat olivaceous, prominently maculate with white. 

 Basal space superiorly white half way to t. a. line, crossed by the dark, 

 geminate basal line, thence black to t. a. line. Interiorly it is of ground 

 color, with a white patch on internal margin at t. a. line. T. a. line 

 geminate, upright, irregularly lunate. T. p. line black, luuulated or 

 crenulated, obsoletely geminate, marked with white on costa and near 

 hind margin, its course aoo it parallel with outer margin. S. t. line 

 white, irregular, interrupteu with a feeble W mark, preceded by a 

 series of irregular black spots. A row of black terminal lunules. 

 Claviform faintly and Incompletely outlined, concolorous. Orbicular 

 large, white, irregular. Immediately below it is a large, irregular white 

 blotch. Eeniform narrow, lunate, rather irregular, white, centered 

 with yellow scales, black ringed. Through the median space there is a 

 broad yellow shade, starting between the ordinary spots bordering the 

 white patch below orbicular, and below that point marked on inner 

 side by two black lunate spots and outwardly by t. p. line. S. t. 

 space irregularly black marked, near hind margin filled by a white 

 blotch. A large apical white patch. Fringes cut with white. Sec- 

 ondaries fuscous. Beneath, fuscous, powdery, with broad outer line 

 and large discal spot. Head and thorax concolorous with primaries, 

 collar with a black line. Patagia) and dorsum with white blotches. 



Expands 30""" (1.20 inches). 



Habitat. — Washington. 



One of the type specimens is in the Museum collection (Coll. J. B. S.), 

 the other is with Mr. E. L. Graef. The species is hardly to be con 

 founded with any other. The blotchy white maculation, yellow median 

 shade, and the peculiar genitalia form a combination of characters not 

 found in any otlier form known to me. 



The harpes of the male have the general shape already described. 

 The lappet like tip is small, inwardly fringed. The clasper is very 



