28 Traistsactions of the Kansas 



present time, and a second planting will undoubtedly repair the damage in the 

 desolated district. The departure of the locusts is taking place more than two 

 weeks earlier than at the time of the first visitation, eight years ago. 

 Lawrence, Kansas, June 20, 1875. 



LARVA AND CHRYSALIS OF THE SAGE SPHIfSfX. 



sphinx lugens Walker {eremitoides Strecker). 

 By Prop. F. H. Snow, of the University of Kansas. 



During the last days of September, 1873, large numbers of caterpillars not ob- 

 served in former years, were found feeding upon the leaves of the two species of wild 

 sage which grow abundantly in this region. Some of these being transferred to 

 breeding cages, they in a few days entered the ground, and in May and June, 1874, 

 I obtained from them the moth whose name appears at the head of this article. As 

 the larva and chrysalis of this species have been hitherto unknown, I append the 

 following descriptions: 



Larva: Length, Z}^, inches; diameter of central segments, .56 inch. Head green- 

 ish brown with a conspicuous white stripe on each lateral margin of the front, 

 separating it from the brownish black sides of the head. The first three segments 

 are of a light smoky green, thickly sprinkled with minute white dots, and having a 

 dorsal brownish-black longitudinal band which tapers to a point at the front of the 

 second segment, and enlarges to half its former breadth upon the rear of the first 

 segment, tapering again to a narrow white-centered line at the front of this segment. 

 This dorsal band is bordered with white on each side and is not continued beyond 

 the third segment. Color of the remaining segments (except the last which is 

 smoky brown with white dots), light green both above and below, witli eight trans- 

 verse rows of minute brownish -black, incomplete annuli upon each segment. Each 

 of these segments has an oblique white lateral stripe extending from the anterior 

 margin of the stigma to nearly the middle of the adjoining segment, becoming 

 obsolete as it reaches the dorsal surface, except the seventh and last stripe, which 

 remains distinct until it reaches the caudal horn. Each of these white stripes has 

 an obscure blackish border on its upper margin. The white stripe is faintly in*li- 

 cated on the anal segment which is inferiorly margined with white. Caudal horu 

 deep brownish black, .o7 inch in length. Stigmata yellowish brown encircled with 

 black, bounded inferiorly with an obscure white line. True legs of a smoky color 

 with silvery spots on the inner surface ; prop-legs deep smoky brown, lighter on 

 the inside and with the clasping edges black. 



Some of the larvte have the smoky brown markings very obscurely indicated, the 

 prevailing color being pale green. 



Food Pl.\nts: Salvia tricliostemmoidss Pursh, and Salvia Pitcher i Torrey. 



The larva becomes full grown from tlie first to the fifteenth of October, and forms 

 its chrysalis in tlie ground at the depth of five to six inches. 



Chrysalis : Length 2.30 inch ; breadth 0.60 incli ; color reddish brown, darker at 

 the anal extremit}-, upon the upper surface and around tlie stigmata; an olive tinge 

 npon the breast. The tongue case is 1.12 inch long from the end of the loop to tlie 



