842 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxvii. 



MAMESTRA DETRACTA Walker. 



Forty-four .specimens, June 13, 17,^0, 23, 25, Jul}' 2, 8, 19. The 

 color is dark us in neoterica Smith, the size large as in t3q3ical detracta 

 "Walker. We have here a local form, differing- so slightly as not to be 

 worthy of a separate name, yet constant. The Atlantic region detracta 

 is large, the colors rather diversified and contrasted; the Western 

 prairie foi-m neoterlca is small with the colors smoother and less 

 diversified, while the Kootenai form is again large but smooth and 

 dark like the priaric one. Eggs were obtained earl}^ but the larvae 

 grew very slowl}" and none pupated, all hibernating at >arious stages 

 of growth. All the stages were observed. 



Egg. — Nearly spherical, the apex a little pointed, base scarcely 

 flattened; whitish with streaked red ring and spot, liibs moderate 

 with reticulation lines running along the vertices which, with the 

 cross stria% form quadrangular cells; ribs about 40 at the edge; micro- 

 pyle conically elevated, bearing a circle of pyriform cells surrounded 

 by reticulations; diameter, 1 mm. 



Stage I. — Head bilobod, bright brown with darker sutures; width, 

 0.4 mm. Bodv robust, normal, joint 12 a little enlarged, feet nearly 

 equal. AVhitish slate color, the hemispherical shield with the leg 

 plates and small tubercles black. Skin rather denseh' dark spinulose; 

 setse fine, pale, moderate. 



Stage II. — Head rounded, bilobed, i:)ale brown, a smoky shade on 

 paraclypeus, eyes black; width, 0.6 mm. Cervical shield shining 

 black. Body robust, joint 12 anteriorly enlarged, feet nearly equal. 

 Soft pale brown, vinous shaded, without lines. Tubercles round, 

 blackish; anal plate large blackish but no leg plates; thoracic feet 

 pale; seta? short, pale. 



Stage III. — Head shining pale brown, a smoky upright shade and 

 traces of reticulations; width 0.75 mm. Bod}'^ robust, pinkish red; 

 dorsal and sulxlorsal lines narrow, white, the dorsal macular on the 

 posterior edges of the segments; traces of a white substigmatal Ijand 

 intersegmentally. Cervical shield large, black, rather broadly trilin- 

 eate in white; anal plate similar; leg shields and tubercles brown 

 black, the latter round, moderate. Setaa obscure dusky; joint 12 

 slightly enlarged. 



Stage IV. — Head bilobed, shining pale brown with heavy reticu- 

 lations and broad, vertical bands of dark brown; width, 1.2 mm. Cer- 

 vical shield l)lack with three white lines. Bod}^ robust, joints 2-4 

 smaller, 12 enlarged. Dead leaf brown, red-brown reticulate on a 

 pale luteous ground; dorsal and subdorsal lines narrow, whitish, the 

 dorsal distinct on joints 12 posteriorly to 13, and cutting the black anal 

 plate. No substigmatal or subventral bands, the venter sordid, pale. 

 Tubercles small, round, black; feet pale; setas obscure. 



