MEMYTHRUS. 287 



a transverse stripe on the fore-wings rusty-brown. The fringes 

 are tawny. 



The larva Hves in the trunk and roots of willows and 

 poplars. It is whitish and pubescent, with a dusky dorsal line, 

 and a dark brown head. 



The moth is found from May to July, sitting on the trunks 

 of poplars, &c., near the root, when it looks exactly like a 

 large wasp. 



GENUS MEMYTHRUS. 



Paranthrene, pt. Hubner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 128 (1818?); 



Newman, Ent. Mag. i. p. 83 (Sept. 1832); Walker, List 



Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 13 (1856). 

 Memythrus, Newman, Sphinx Vespiformis, p. 53 (Jan. 1832). 

 Sciapteron, Staudinger, Ses. Berol. p. 43 (1854). 



The antennas are pectinated and ciliated in the male ; the 

 body is moderately slender and tufted at the tip, and the fore- 

 wings are almost entirely opaque, except for a slight indication 

 of transparency at the base ; the hind-wings are transparent, 

 except the borders. 



THE DUSKY CLEAR-WING. MEMYTHRUS VESPIFORMIS. 



{Plate CLV., Fig. 2.) 



Sphinx vespiformis, Linnaeus, Faun. Suec. p. 289 (1761). 

 Sphi?ix tabaniformis, Von Rottenburg, Naturf vii. p. no, no. 4 



(1775)- 

 Spkipix asi/iformis, Denis & Schiffcrmtlller, Syst. Verz. Schmett. 



Wien, p. 305, no. 9 (i-jjO); Esper, Schmett. ii. (2), p. 205, 



Taf 29, fig. I (1782?). 



Sesia asiliformis, Laspeyres, Ses. Eur. p. 10 (1801); Ochsen- 



heimer, Schmett. Eur. ii. p. 128 (180S); Barrett, Lepid. 



Brit. Isl. ii. p. 78, pi. 55, figs, i, i a (1893). 



