Ceratocampidas 

 Genus CITHERONIA Hubner 



This genus of large and showy moths is characteristically 

 neotropical, having its metropolis in Central America. Three 

 species occur in our territory, two of them having an extensive 

 northern range. 



( i) Citheronia regalis Fabricius, Plate 1, Fig. 4, larva ; Plate 

 X, Fig. 3, $ . (The Royal Walnut-moth.) 



Syn. regia Abbot & Smith. 



The caterpillar, which is known by boys as the "Hickory 

 Horn-devil," feeds upon a great variety of trees and shrubs, 

 showing a decided preference for the walnut and butternut, the 

 persimmon, and several species of arborescent sumac (R/itis). 



(2) Citheronia sepulchralis Grote & Robinson, Plate XLI, 

 Fig, 5, $ . (The Pine-devil Moth.) 



The larva, which is smaller and more obscurely colored than 

 that of the preceding species, feeds upon various species of pine, 

 and the insect ranges from the Carolinas northward to Massa- 

 chusetts along the coast. It is not uncommon in the valley of 

 the Potomac, and at Berkeley Springs I have found it abundant in 

 the larval state in the months of July and August. 



(3) Citheronia mexicana Grote & Robinson, Plate X, Fig. 

 4, $ . (The Mexican Walnut-moth.) 



This species, which is in many respects very closely allied tc 

 C. regalis, occurs in Arizona, and southward. , 



Genus BASILONA Boisduval 



The only representative of this genus within the limits of the 

 United States is the species which is illustrated on our plates. 

 There are a number of other species, which are Mexican or South 

 American. 



(i) Basilona imperialis Drury, Plate X, Fig. 2, 9 ; Plate 

 XI, Fig. 13, $. (The Imperial Moth.) 



Syn. tmperaioria Abbot & Smith; pundatissiina Ncumoegen. 



The larva feeds upon a vast number of trees and shrubs, and 

 may almost be described as omnivorous. The larvae are either 

 brown or green, the color having nothing whatever to do with 

 the character of the perfect msects, which emerge from the 

 pupae. Such cases of dichromatism among larvae are not at all 

 uncommon. 



97 



