The State of California as far as its fauna is known, is poor 

 in Sphinges. Most of our species are too rare to play a part 

 anywhere but in collections and cabinets of scientists. 



DeilepJiila Lineata var. Daiiciis, is common throughout the 

 State. It is also found in the Atlantic States and in the slightly 

 aberrant form described by Linne, in Mediterranean Europe. It 

 seems to be nowhere so common as on the Pacific slope. The 

 larva prefers plants of the natural order Onagracecs, viz : Epilobiuni, 

 Boisduvalia, ClarkicB, Eiicharidmm, Godetia, yEnothcra, and since 

 the introduction of the Fuchsia species into our gardens it has 

 taken very kindly to the different varieties of these exotics. 



The larva but rarely suffers here from Ichnewnon, OpJiion or 

 other parasites. It has a strong vitality and the power to adapt 

 itself to plants of different orders for instance Rmncx and 

 Portiilaca. Occasionally, but rarely it is met with on the grape- 

 vine. 



This species is known to have multiplied under favorable 

 circumstances to an alarming extent. In a report published in 

 the year 1S77 I find a notice of such an instance, of which 

 r give the particulars. 



In that year the neighborhood of Manhattan, in Kansas, 

 was devastated by swarms of Locusts {Caloptcnus) to a degree 

 that all grass had entirely disappeared. Before the seeds of the 

 destroyed grasses had a chance to germinate, their place was 

 occupied by a herbaceous vegetation, chiefly consisting of 

 Portiilaca oleracea. Scarcely was this new vegetation started 

 when numerous larvae of D. Lineata made their appearance 

 spreading even to some of the neighboring vineyards. This 

 last circumstance roused the apprehensions of the people, when 

 the cause of their fears disappeared as suddenly as it had made 

 its appearance. 



I read that Philainpehis AcJicenion, PJiilavipelus Satellitia, and 

 CJicerocampa Myron are injurious to the grapevines of the Atlantic 

 States. I do not know to what degree they are injurious, i. c. if 

 they are dangerous, or merely troublesome and annoying. 



PJi. AclicBmon is the only one of these species as yet found 

 in California. Like most insects, feeding on plants cultivated ex- 

 clusively on large tracts of land, this species will multiply in 

 favorable seasons to an alarming extent. Nevertheless, I do not 

 know of any instance of material damage done by this species. 

 The larva looks more formidable than it is in reality. It is of 

 quick growth and soon transforms. The powerful flight of the 

 imago carries the female to localities very distant from her birth 

 place. Besides this, PJi. Achcznion partakes largely of the well 

 known peculiarity of many Sphingides ; namely, the undeveloped 

 sexual character of the individuals that transform the same year 

 and do not hybernate in the chrysalis state, so that the propaga- 

 tion depends mainly or the hybernating individuals. 



