MOTHS OF THE GENUS ARACHNIS — CLARKE 65 



Tyfe. — In the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. 



Type locality. — San Francisco, Calif. 



Food plants. — ^Alfalfa, clover, geranium, lupine, Malva^ rose, sage- 

 brush, etc. 



Remarks. — The genitalia of p'wta and its varieties show consider- 

 able variation, but no characters present are sufficiently stable to 

 enable the absolute separation of one from the other by the use of these 

 organs. The typical subspecies {picta picta) shows the most con- 

 sistent form. The lateral projection of the harpe of this subspecies 

 is usually much thicker than in the others and the posterior edge of 

 the projection is comparatively smooth. In the other subspecies the 

 lateral projection varies in thickness and is usually roughened on the 

 posterior edge. 



In addition to the material listed under distribution I have before 

 me two specimens from Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, Calif. 

 (2-X-1931, ll-X-1931, Don Meadows), which appear to be an island 

 race of picta. The gray markings are very light and coalesced and 

 not sharply defined. The thorax, head, and fore wing have a powdered 

 appearance. Until more material comes to hand and it is possible 

 to determine the constancy of this form I am leaving it unnamed. 

 This race falls between picta and verna in my key. 



These specimens were sent to me by Dr. J. A. Comstock, of the Los 

 Angeles Museum. 



ARACHNIS PICTA VERNA Barnes and McDnnnough 



Arachnis picta verna Barnes and McDunnough, Contr. Nat. Hist. Lepid. North 

 Amer., vol. 4, p. 90, pi. 13, figs. 5, 6, 1918. — McDunnough, Cheek list of the 

 Lepidoptera of Canada and the United States of America (Part 1, Macrolepi- 

 doptera), No. 1082c, 1938. 



Alar expanse, 45-73 mm. 



Distribution. — Middle California to Utah. 



California: Three Rivers, Tulare County, 3 $ $,Q 9 9 (no dates or collector). 



Utah: Dividend, ^ i $, 9 (August and September dates; Tom Spalding); 

 Eureka, 6 5 5,3 5 $ (August and September dates, 1910 to 1921, Tom 

 Spalding) ; Provo, $, 9 (20-IX-190S; 25-VIII-1908, Tom Spalding). 



Type. — In the U. S. National Museum. 



Type locality. — Three Rivers, Tulare County, Calif. 



Remarks. — This variety averages slightly larger than typical picta 

 and has more of the whitish or pale-gi'ay ground color showing, thus 

 appearing considerably lighter. The dark markings of the hind wing 

 are reduced in veima. 



While this race is at present known only from two rather small areas 

 it may be found throughout much of the area between California and 

 the Rocky Mountains, even though this particular species appears to 

 produce rather restricted races. 



