23 



9. The Smeared Dagger {Acronydaoblinita, Sm. and Abb.). 



f'g-13. The accompanying figure illustrates this 



insect in its various stages. The larva is a 

 brightly ornamented, hairy caterpillar, about 

 one and a quarter inches long. Its iieail is 

 Hat in front, rather below medium size, with 

 a few yellow hairs ; its jaws arc black. 



The b(Kly above is of a deep velvety 

 black, with a transverse row of prominences 

 or tubercles on each segment, those above are 

 bright red, and set in a band of the same 

 colour, extending far down on each side. 

 From each tubercle there arises a tuft of 

 .short stiff hairs, those on the upper part of 

 the body being of a red colour, wliile below 

 they become yellowish or mixed with yellow. 

 On each side of a line drawn down the centre 

 of the back, is a row of bright yellow spots, 

 two or luore on each segment, and below 

 tlie.se and close to the under surface, is a 

 bright yellow band deejily indented on each 

 segment, the indentations being on a line witli the rows of tubercles. The spiracles or 

 breathing holes are pure white, and are ]>laced in the indented jiortions of the yedow 

 band ; there are ;dso a few whitish dots scattered irregularly over the surface of the 

 body. 



The under side is dull reddish along the middle, and browni.sh black along the sides; 

 the feet are of a shinini; black, and slightly hairy, while the thick fleshy hinder legs, 

 called the prolegs, are reddish tipped with brown, with a cluster of short hairs on the out- 

 side of each. 



This caterpillar is conspicuous from its beaut}', and at first one can scarcely believe 

 that such a handsome caterpillar could produce so plain and quiet looking a moth. Since 

 this larva does not usually feed in company, but is scattered about singly, and as it is such 

 a general feeder, there is no probability of its ever becoming very injurious, but its bril- 

 liant appearance is sure to attract the attention of every beholder. We have found it 

 feediiig very commonly on strawlierry, also on raspberry, and occasionally on the Lom- 

 bard}' pojdar. ^ir. Kile}' has found it very common on smart weed, aiul a correspondent of 

 his in JetVerson City, Mo., ha.s found them very numerous on his peach trees, and has 

 known them to denude both apple and willow trees. 



As soon as this larva is full grown it draws together a few leaves or other loose 

 material and constructs a rude case, witliin which it changes to a dark brown chrysalis. 

 In this enclosure it remains a considerable time; those that we have bred have changed 

 to chrysalis early in September, and did not produce the moths till June following. 

 Mr. Riley says that in Missouri there are two broods each year,and it is possible they may 

 be double-brooded with us also, in which case the summer brood must pass through the 

 various stages of its existence in a much shorter time. 



The moth, Fig. 1.3, c, is shown of the natural size. Its fore wings are grey, with a 

 row of blackish dots along the hind border. There is a broken, blackish, zigzag line 

 — sometimes indistinct- — crossing the wing beyond the middle, and s ome darker greyish 

 spots about the mi<ldle of the wings. The hind wings are nearly pure white. 



In Mr. Riley's third " Report on the Insects of Jlissouri," he says, " there are at least 

 three natuial enemies which serve to kee|) this insect in check. The largest ofthe.se is 

 the Uni-banded Ichni'umon fly (Frhmxtmon nnifasn<ttonis, Say) a large black fly, 060 inch 

 long, and characteiized by a white annulus about the middle of the antenna% a largo 

 white spot about the inidiUe of the thora.x", and a white band on the first joint of the 

 abdomen." 



'•This fly oviposits in the larva of the Snie;ired Dagger, but the latter never sue- 



