52 BULLETIN 190, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Remarks. — While in outward appearance closely approaching the tree 

 borers Thamnosphecia scitula and T. pyi'i, structures of the genitalia indi- 

 cate a nearer relationship with Carmenta querci, a western species feeding 

 on spongy galls on oak. The sacculus ridge of phoradendri bears flat, 

 brown scales ending in a pocket of yellow scales at the margin. This 

 structure prevails in the majority of species boring in herbaceous plants. 

 C. phoradendri confines its attacks to the mistletoe, Phoradendron flaves- 

 cens, growing in strong clusters on trees of mesquite, Prosopis glandtdosa, 

 in Texas. Rearing records thus far are limited to Bexar and Victoria 

 Counties. The larvae tunnel in the heavy, lower parts of the stems and the 

 basal swellings on the branches. From stem cuttings secured in March, 

 moths emerged in April, May, and June. A long series of examples 

 received from H. B, Parks were collected on flowering Baccharis at the 

 Apicultural Station near San Antonio during September 1931. This may 

 signify a double-brooded species; however, no material for rearing could 

 be obtained at that time. Infestations are easily detected by the wilted, 

 discolored appearance of the plants. The larvae winter in long galleries, 

 pupating in firmly attached, smoothly silk-lined cocoons at the burrow's 

 exit in the spring. The pupae are normal, light brown. 



Sacculus ridge of male genitalia flat-scaled in a thin, curved line, hooked 

 at the margin. Vinculum long and slender. 



CARMENTA TECTA (Hy. Edwards) 



Aegeria tecta Hy. Edwards, Papilio, vol. 2, p. 56, 1882. 



Sesia tecta Beutenmuller, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 8, p. 142, 1896; 



Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 1, pt. 6, p. 302, pi. 31, fig. 7 (male), pi. Z2,, 



fig. 2 (male), fig. 3 (female), 1901. 

 Synanthedon tecta McDunnough, Check list of the Lepidoptera of Canada and 



the United States of America, pt. 2, No. 8738, 1939. 



Male. — Antennae black, strongly dilated and ferruginous. Labial palpi 

 pale yellow or sordid white beneath, black above. Head black. Collar pale 

 yellow above, white at the sides and beneath. Thorax violaceous-black, 

 patagia with a pale-yellow stripe and metathorax tufted with sordid white 

 at the sides ; a posterior, transverse, pale-yellow mark ; anterior wing base 

 and the sides beneath with patches of pale yellow or sordid white. Ab- 

 domen black with steel-blue or violaceous reflections and with five narrow 

 yellow bands on segments 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7, the band on segment 4 broadest 

 and encircling the body ; some of the bands not always discernible on 

 abraded examples ; segments 5, 6, and 7 each with a pale-yellow patch be- 

 neath ; anal tuft black, narrowly fan-shaped, faintly fringed with white at 

 the sides and pale yellow in the middle beneath. Legs blue-black, anterior 

 coxae pale yellow, posterior tibiae tufted with sordid white at the spurs, 

 and tarsi banded with white at the joints. Forewing transparent, veins, 

 costa, and narrow margin black, discal mark narrow, straight, and marked 

 with orange outwardly ; beneath dusted with golden yellow on costa, discal 



