March, 1914] FORBES : NoCTUID.E OF NoRTH AMERICA. 15 



Abdomen not strongly tufted. 



152. Front only half as wide as eyes and rough ; basal tuft of abdomen fan- 



like ; vestiture of short spatulate scales, palpi upturned beyond 

 middle of front 153. 



Front projecting half the width of the eyes, broad, rough; palpi beak- 

 like Balsa. 



Similar, vestiture scaly, palpi not exceeding the clypeus.. Tarache (54). 



Front fairly broad, rarely strongly rounded out {e. g., some Acronyctas 

 and Bellura) ; smooth and shining 154. 



153. Anterior thoracic crest large and fan-like Lenconycta (68). 



Anterior thoracic crest slight Polygrainmate. 



154. Abdomen very stout and broadly flattened; palpi closely scaled and 



vipturned beyond vertex; eyes not lashed.... Amphipyra (Pyrophila). 



Abdomen rarely strongly flattened and if so with lashed eyes or moderate 



palpi or both 155. 



155. Bright lemon yellow Xanthia. 



Ground color green 156. 



Of other colors, often ochre or pale straw-yellow 157. 



156. Fore wings twice as long as wide, eyes lashed Feralia, group Momaphana. 

 Fore wing no;rmal, eyes naked Agriopodes (69). 



157. Vestiture of plain hair, smooth on abdomen and wholly without tufts, 



fore wing more or less striate, or without distinct markings .... 158. 

 Otherwise, vestiture very rarely of plain hair 159. 



158. Tongue very weak, maxillary palpi distinct Arsilonche. 



Tongue normal, maxillary palpi concealed by the pilifer in front view, 



Ommatostola. 



159. Vestiture of short spatulate scales or simple scales; palpi large, if up- 



turned reaching vertex, eyes yery rarely lashed 160. 



Vestiture deep and mixed, palpi usually moderate 180. 



160. Mesothorax with well-marked paired tufts between the posterior ends of 



the patagia, vestiture decidedly spatulate 161. 



Mesothorax usually smoothly, sometimes roughly, scaled but only with 

 divided tufts in a few species with vestiture of normal scales . . 162. 



161. Abdomen with a fan-like tuft at base, fore wing not striate, maxillary 



palpi larger Acronycta group fragilis {Micrococlia) (68), 



Abdomen with slight basal tuft or none, fore wing brown, striate ; maxil- 

 lary palpi smaller Crambodes. 



162. Palpi if upturned barely exceeding vertex, and with moderate, smoothly 



scaled third joint, or shorter; if porrect, extending about the length 



of the head 163. 



Palpi if upturned with a long third joint, usually at least half the length 

 of the second, far exceeding the vertex, and when shortest rough- 

 scaled or hairy above; if porrect or oblique much longer, and 

 usually with blade-like third joint. Venation never normal trifid; 

 fore legs of male usually modified i^/- 



