^z 



256. 



XYLINA EXOLETA. 



The large Sword-grass Moth. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Noctuidas L,at., Leach. 

 Type of the Genus Noctua exoleta Linn. 

 Xylina Hilb., Treit., Goda. — Noctua Linn., Fab., Haw., &;c. 



Antenna inserted on the crown of the head close to the eyes, 

 setaceous, robust in the males, thickly clothed with obtuse scales 

 above, each joint ciliated with hairs beneath (1). 

 Maxiilce as long as the antennae, robust, spiral, setaceous and 

 pubescent at the base, a considerable portion towards the apex 

 furnished with numerous long tentacula (3). 

 Labial palpi short, robust, porrected obliquely, densely covered 

 with trigonate and toothed scales, which conceal the apical joint 

 (4) ; triarticulate, basal joint robust, 2nd long, slightly dilated 

 in the middle, 3rd oval-truncate (4a). 

 Head venj short and closely united to the thorax^ densely covered with 

 long scales. Eyes small. Ocelli 2. Thorax quadrate, slightly 

 crested and trilobed behind. Abdomen short, and depressed, the apex 

 triangular in the males. Wings very long and sublinear : superior 

 with the cilia indented ; inferior rather large. Anterior legs short, 

 posterior long. Coxae and thighs very large and woolly. Tibiae, an- 

 terior very short, with an internal scaly spine ; posterior very long, 

 terminated by spurs and a pair above the apex. Tarsi producing 

 series of spiny bristles beneath, 5-jointed, anterior very short, basal 

 joint the longest. Claws distinct and slightly notched near the 

 middle. Pulvilli minute (8, afore leg). 

 Larvae cylindrical, naked, with 6 pectoral, 8 abdominal and 2 anal feet. 



Exoleta Linn. Faun. Suec. n. 1 185. — Haw. Lep. Brit. p. 168. n. 24. 

 Pale ochreous with a reddish tint. Palpi nose and eyes black j 

 underside of antennae brown. Thorax blackish, the anterior part 

 banded with ochre and brown, the lobes rather pinky, the apex 

 of the scales dotted with black. Abdomen ferruginous ochre, 

 obscurely banded with dark brown, black beneath excepting the 

 apex. Wings, superior marbled, pencilled towards the base, the 

 costa brownish, the interior margin more gray, the cilia brown, 

 spotted with black ; before the middle is a distinct ear-.shaped 

 spot and beyond it a larger one black at the top and bottom, the 

 black extending towards the posterior margin, which produces a 

 short black ray, and an obscure one beneath : inferior wings 

 grayish fuscous, with a darker lunula towards the base, the 

 margin dotted, the cilia ochreous. Underside ; with a round 

 black spot towards the centre of each wing. 



In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



