﻿Sept. 1895,] Dyar. Larva of Demas Propinquilinea. 131 



other family. In fact, it appears to me that the placing of Demas 

 among the Lymantriida; may properly be characterized as premature. 



The larva of our one species (Z>. propinquilined) has been described 

 by Goodell and Thaxter. Mr. Goodell describes the usual form, but 

 his description of the red hair-tufts I cannot exactly reconcile and he 

 does not mention the anterior pair. Dr. Thaxter notes a variety in 

 which the tufts are black instead of red. I subjoin my own notes. 

 Two points of interest may be noted about this larva. ( i ) It greatly 

 resembles in general appearance Halisidota Iiarrisii, and like it is fond 

 of hiding during the day. (2) It possesses a curious coloration which 

 may serve to suggest to its insect enemies that is already occupied by a 

 parasite. This consists of a series of oblique black shades adjoining 

 the white spiracles; the elliptical white spiracle greatly resembles the 

 ^gg of Tachina, while the dark shade represents the path of the emerged 

 parasite. The appearance is ver}- natural. 



Larva. — Head white shining, covered with angular light red 

 blotches which obscure the ground color above apex of clypeus, except 

 in narrow irregular lines ; jaws black ; bases of antennae and labrum 

 pale ; width about 4 mm. Body grayish white with wrinkled irregular 

 transverse lines. Spiracles white, each surrounded and preceded by 

 an obbque black patch. Warts large, iv absent, on joints 3 and 4 two 

 warts above the stigmatal wart and one below it ; hair rather bristly, 

 not long nor obscuring the body, but quite abundant, white ; from tu- 

 bercle ii on joint 3 a light red pencil ; from the upper half of tubercle i 

 on joints 5 and 12 a red tuft, the component parts approximating and 

 forming a single dorsal tuft. No secondary hairs, but a itvf long ones 

 from the extremities. Warts white. A. faint dorsal and lateral dusky 

 stripe, not formed of pigment, but more transparent than the other parts 

 of the skin. Warts i and ii on joint 12 form a trapezoid. 



Found on maple in a house of two leaves united by silk. Imago 

 in May. 



Pupa shining dark brown with a large wrinkled cremaster and 

 three movable incisures. Of the usual Noctuid appearance (quite un- 

 like Orgyia) and passing the winter. 



