4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.68 



nearer to La than to 02; SOa usually slightly nearer to S02 than to 

 S03; 803 distinctly nearer to 03 than to Gl. 



Material. — Described from a large number of larvae from various 

 sources. 



Distribution. — This species is widely distributed over the world 

 and is found in nearly all parts of the United States. 



Food plants. — The larva is a general feeder. We have not at- 

 tempted to make a comprehensive list of food plants but have taken 

 larvae feeding on the following: Cotton bolls, ears of corn, buds of 

 corn, tobacco leaves, buds and seed capsules, tomato fruits, peppers, 

 Physalis, species, sassafras, rose shoots, beans, and okra. 



HELIOTHIS VIUESCENS Fabricius 



This larva has the following distinguishing characters : 



All instars after the second. — Dorsal setigerous tubercles (I and II) 

 on abdominal segments 1, 2, and 8 set with the minute spinules 

 with which the skin is clothed. Tubercle I on the above abdominal 

 segments usually conspicuously larger than II. 



Fifth insiar larva. — Head 1.7-2 mm. broad. 



Adult (sixth instar) larva. — Head 2.6-3 mm. broad. Each mandible 

 usually with a large basal process on its oral face. Spiracles on 

 abdominal segments 1 to 7, 0.244 mm. high, which is near the average 

 width of the corresponding spiracles in ohsoleta Fabricius (fig. 7). 

 vScta A3 usually distinctly less than the width of the ocellus removed 

 from ocellus II (fig. 12). Lino connecting the insertions of setae 

 A3 and 02 passing through ocellus I near the center (fig. 12). Head 

 marked, if at all, with brown freckles and sometimes with white 

 reticulation. No dark submedian arcs. 



Body about 28 mm. long and 4 mm. broad; first four abdominal 

 segments of about equal v/idth, the body tapering both anteriorly 

 and posteriorly from these; skin set closely with small, short, retrorse 

 spinelike granules which are wliite on the pale lines, dark elsewhere 

 dorsally, and pale ventrally; general color often green with the venter 

 tending to be white medially and with little infuscation, but varying 

 to reddish and maroon with infescation more or less developed bor- 

 dering the middorsal pale line and in the supraspiracular area. 

 Broken white or yellowish longitudinal lines usually present as 

 follows: Middorsally, flanking the middorsal line, dorsal to setige- 

 rous tubercle I, through tubercle I, between tubercles I and II, 

 through tubercle II, bordering the supraspiracular area above, and 

 a pair in the supraspiracular area submedially. The supraspiracular 

 area is often scarcely diiFerentiated in color from the dorsum but may 

 be more or less intensely infuscatcd, especially on the dorsal half. 

 Spiracles set well within the subspiracular pale stri])e, black with 

 brown centers. Setigerous tubercles large and somewhat conical, 

 I much larger than II on abdominal segments 1. 2 and 8, less 



