— 1 76 — 



nearly squarely truncate with a sharp spine like protuberance on each 

 side giving the pupa quite the appearance of the seeds of the common 

 Beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa). These points are in all cases violet in 

 color. On each side of the pupa edging the wing-cases is a light line 

 edged in the green specimens with a shade of violet and in the darker 

 specimens with dark violet. The pupa is fastened by the tail to a 

 slight button of silk, and is also girthed widi a thread of silk about 

 the wing cases. Pupated, August 29th. The larva before spinning 

 loosely covers the surface of the leaf or stem with silk, and the girth often 

 shows individual strands running off to quite a distance, giving the idea 

 that there is tendency towards a slight cocoon. The pupa is very active, 

 wriggling in a lively manner when anything touches it. 



Of the pupa Dr. Packard gives a description and figure Mon. Geom. 

 p. 336, pi. 13, f. 32. In the description he speaks of the pupa as "flat- 

 tened" which is not true of the 30 or 40 specimens before me. In the 

 figure the ear-like projections aie slightly shorter than in those before me. 

 The imago, which is two-brooded, emerged Sept. 7th. 



There is a very considerable interest attaching to this history as it 

 bears upon the position that much discussed species Kuphanessa mendica 

 Walk. Walker, Herrich-Schaeffer, and Dr. Packard put it in the Bom- 

 bycidce. I discussed the matter in a paper before the Entomological Club 

 of the A. A. A. S. (Entom. Am., Vol. II, p. 167). and there gave my 

 reasons for believing it a true Geometer. The greatest aberrancy was in 

 the shape of the pupa, and its habit of placing a girth of silk about the 

 wing-cases. I had considered that the moth ought to be catalogued near 

 Ephyra. The history of^i. insu/aria strengthens mv opinion that the 

 insect is a true Geometer, and also that I was right in mv idea of its 

 place in the Catalogue. The form of the pupa of A. insularia very 

 strongly resembles that of E. mendica, and its habit of making use of a 

 girth is the same. I am indebted to A. C. Weeks, Esq., for the larvae. 



-*+~*^>- 



21 Eighth Street, Lowell, Mass. Aug 24th, 1887. 

 Eds. Entomologica Americana. — Gentlemen : 



I am open to criticism in saying "Ent. Ani." Vol. Ill, p. 85, that 

 there are two exceptions to Lieut. Casey's observation that the tibia are 

 unarmed in Stenus when I only adduce one. 



A pupa of Anthonomus pusillus has been discovered in the seed- 

 vessels of Helianthemiim Canadcnse since my notes were written, proving 

 that the entire transformations take place within the seed vessels as I had 

 supposed. Respectfully, Frederick Blanchard. 



