PAPILIO. 



Prgan of tl^e ffew Jork f ntomological piub. 



Vol. 1.] October, 1881. [No. 9. 



AN AQUATIC NOCTUID LARVA. 



Arzaina Melanopyga Grote, neiv species. 

 By Prof. J. Henry Comstock, of Cornell University. 



During the month of January, 1880, I found the larva of a 

 Noctuid moth very common in the leaf-stalks of pond lily in 

 Lake Beresford, Florida. The larva bores a hole from the upper 

 side of the leaf into the petiole, which it tunnels in some instances 

 to the depth of two feet or more below the surface of the water. 

 The species was very common, a large proportion of the leaves 

 of the lily in that lake being infested. There was, however, but 

 a single larva in each leaf. When full grown the larva measures 

 from 50 mm. to 70 mm. in length, and it is a little more than 5 

 mm. in diameter. The color of the dorsal surface is dark olive 

 gray, and of the ventral surface pale olive gray ; its head is light 

 reddish brown. Some specimens are much lighter in color, being 

 quite transparent. These larvae are well known to the people 

 living near the lake, who use them for fish bait, and call them 

 ^' bonnet worms ; " the term " bonnet " being applied to the large 

 leaves of the lily. 



From larvae which I collected at that time and sent to Wash- 

 ington, two moths were reared. These were referred to Mr. A. 

 R. Grote, who determined them as an undescribed species of 

 Arzama, and kindly prepared a diagnosis of the species imder the 

 name of A. Melanopyga for publication in my report as Entomolo- 

 gist of the Department of Agriculture. As I was unable, for want 

 of time, to prepare an article on the subject, I did not include 

 Mr. Grote's description in my report. I now, therefore, injustice 

 to him, hastily pen this note, in order to put on record his de- 

 scription, which I have already withheld too long. 



I have recently found a larva in considerable numbers in the 



