OPHIUSA. J 25 



FAMILY TOXOCAMPID^. 



GENUS OPHIUSA. 



Ophi'usa, Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur. iv. p. 93 (1816) ; 

 Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (3), p. 288 (1826 ; nee 

 Guenee). 

 Ophiussa, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 266 (1822 ?). 

 Toxoeampa, Guenee, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, x. p. 75 (1841) ; 

 id. Spec. Gen. Lepid. Noct. ii. p. 423 (1852). 



The species of this genus are easily recognized by the 

 comparatively long and slender body, the conspicuous black or 

 brown collar, and the rather broad, brown, obtuse wings, with 

 the reniform stigma distinctly marked on the fore-wings, and 

 the hind-wings without markings. The legs are rather long, 

 with strong spurs. 



The larvae are long, smooth, and velvety, tapering at the 

 ends, and with sixteen legs, but the first two pairs of pro-legs 

 are rather shorter than the others. They feed on low-growing 

 leguminous plants. 



The pupee are conical, and are enclosed in cocoons among 

 the bushes on which the larvce feed. 



THE SCARCE ELACK-NECK MOTH. OPHIUSA CRACC/E. 



Noctua eraeecE, Denis & Schiffermiiller, Syst. Verz. Schmett. 



Wien. p. 94, no. 3 {1776) ; Hiibner, Beitr. Gesch. 



Schmett. i. (3), p. 30, Taf. 4, fig. W (1788); id. Eur. 



Schmett. iv. figs. 320, 669, 670 (1S04?). 

 Ophiusa eraccce, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (3), p. 295 (1826). 

 Toxoeampa eraeeee, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 277, 



pi. 40, fig. 10 (1881); Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid. vi. 



p. 117, pi. 104, figs. 2, 2a (1895). 



This moth has a wide range, extending through Central 

 and Southern Europe and Northern and "Western Asia, but is 



