344 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



The largest of these moths may be called Agrotis tetifera^ 

 the lance-rustic. It closely resembles Ag-rotis st/ffusa, the dark 

 sword-rustic of Europe. The fore wings are light brown, 

 shaded with dark brown along the outer thick edge, and in the 

 middle also in the female; these wings are divided into three 

 nearly equal parts by two transverse bands, each composed of 

 two wavy dark brown lines ; in the middle space are situated 

 the two ordinary spots, together with a third oval spot, which 

 touches the anterior band; these spots are encircled with dark 

 brown, and the kidney-spot bears a dark brown lance-shaped 

 mark on its hinder part; the hindmost third of the wing is 

 crossed by a broad pale band, and is ornamented by a narrow 

 wavy or festooned line, and several small blackish spots near 

 the margin. The hind wings are pearly white, and semitrans- 

 parent, shaded behind, and veined with dusky brown. The 

 thorax is brown or gray-brown, with the edge of the collar 

 blackish. The abdomen is gray. The wings expand two 

 inches or more. 



Another of these moths is the counterpart of the ar/im and 

 agricola of Europe. It also resembles the teJiferain form, but 

 is destitute of the lance-shaped spot on the fore wings; and 

 hence I have named it Agrotis inermis, the unarmed rustic- 

 moth. The fore wings are light brown, shaded in the middle 

 and towards the hinder margin with dusky brown ; they are 

 crossed by four, more or less distinct, wavy bands, each formed 

 of two blackish lines; the kidney-spot is dusky; and there are 

 several blackish spots on the outer thick edge of the wing. 

 The hind wings are pearly white in the middle, shaded behind 

 and veined with dusky brown. The thorax is reddish brown, 

 with the collar and shoulder-covers doubly edged with black. 

 The abdomen is gray. It expands two inches. 



The reaping rustic {Agrotis messoria)^ as it may be called, 

 is the representative of the corn-rustic {Agrotis segetum) of 

 Europe. The fore wings are reddish gray, crossed by five 

 wavy blackish bands, the first two of which, and generally the 

 fourth also, are double ; the two ordinary spots, and a third 

 oval spot near the middle of the wing, are bordered with black. 

 The hind wings are whitish, becoming dusky brown behind. 



