n 



- / S 3 3 

 475. 



OPHIUSA LUSORIA. 



The Black-neck Moth. 



Order Lepidoptera. Fam. Noctuidse. 



Type of the Genus, Noctua lusoria Linn. 

 Ophiusa Och., Treit., Curt. — Bombyx Linn. — Noctua Fab., Hub., 

 Haw., Goda. 



Antenna inserted on each side the crown of the head, setaceous, 

 clothed with scales above, pubescent beneath, with a series of 

 bristles on each side (1). 



Maxilla: as long as the antennae, slender and spiral (3). 

 Labial palpi sometimes curved upward and projecting beyond 

 the head, robust, being densely clothed with scales, the apical 

 joint apparent (4) ; triarticulate, basal joint not short, 2nd twice 

 as long, stouter and incrassated towards the apex, 3rd joint only 

 half as long as the 1st and slender (4 a). 

 Head short, transverse with a tuft of hair on the crown : eyes large 

 and globose : ocelh 2. Thorax subquadrate , trilobed. Abdomen 

 rather long cylindrical and slender, tufted at the apex in the males, 

 conical in the females. VJings forming a triangle when at rest and 

 scarcely deflexed, ample and entire, superior elongate-trigonate, the 

 apex acute, being a little hooked, the inferior angle rounded : inferior 

 wings rounded. Legs rather long. Tibiae, anterior short and stout 

 with an internal spine, the others with long but unequal spurs at the 

 apex, the posterior being elongated and having a pair also below the 

 middle (8 f). Tarsi o-jointed, basal joint the longest. Claws and 

 pulvilli minute. 

 Caterpillars naked, attenuated to both ends ; with 6 pectoral, 8 abdo- 

 minal and 2 anal feet. 

 Fwpas folliculated, changing upon or in the earth. Och. 



Lusoria Linn. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 882. 1. 



Cinereous lilac : antennae and palpi ochreous, outside of the 

 latter, crown of head and anterior scales of thorax, forming a 

 ruif or collar, rich brown : anterior wings transversely freckled, 

 forming short irregular lines ; the costa and an undefined band 

 towards the posterior margin fuscous or reddish brown ; a sub- 

 lunulate chocolate coloured spot on the disc, with 2 dots outside 

 the lower cusp, and another between it and the base : abdomen 

 and posterior wings ochreous, the latter indistinctly freckled in 

 transverse lines, and fuscous towards the margin. 

 Obs. This moth varies much in the tone of its colours. 



In the Author s and other Cabinets. 



The differences between the genera Ophiusa and Catephia 

 being principally in the colour, I included them in the same 



