Lepidoptera 



241 



surface of the ground (fig. 133). The Noctuidae are world-wide in 

 their distribution. 



Agfaristidae. — The Agaristida are a family of large day-flying 

 moths, closely related to the Noctuidz, though markedly different in 

 aspect, owing to their brightly-coloured wings — often showing scarlet, 

 orange or yellow patches on black ground. In wing-neuration these 

 insects differ from the Arctiidas, which they rather resemble in 

 appearance, and agree with the Noctuidae ; but they may be struc- 

 turally distinguished from the latter family by the swollen form of 

 the feelers. The larvse moreover are hairy. The AgaristidJB are 

 numerous in the tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia ; a fair 



Fig. 133. — c.f. Heliothis annigera (Hb.). e. larva; d. pupa in 

 earthen cell, natural size ; a. b. egg, highly magnified. From 

 Mally, Bull. 24, Div. Ent. U.S. Dept. Agr. 



number of species inhabit southern North America, but very few are 

 found in Central and South America. 



Syntomidae.— The SyntomiJa are a family of day-flying moths 

 which resemble the Zygsnidse (p. 231) in aspect, theforewings being 

 much longer than the hindwings. They are, however, structurally, 

 nearer to the Arctiida; whence they may be distinguished by the 

 absence of the sub-costal nervure of the hindwing. The larvse are 

 furnished with tufts of hairs, and the pupz are enclosed in a dense 

 silken cocoon. Dark-coloured wings with clear spots devoid of 



