1 1 1 



CONCLUSION OF LIST OF AMERICAN APATEL^E. 



By a. R. Grote. 



Genus APATELA. Hubn. 



Sub-genus JMegacronicta. Gr. 



The type of this section is the well-known A. Americana, 

 Harr., which seems to have no European analogue, strictly 

 speaking. The section contains the largest and stoutest species, 

 coming nearest to the section Acronicta. 



1. A. Americana, Harris, Ins. Inj. Veg., p. 317, "American 

 Dagger." This is, on the whole, our stoutest species and its 

 range is Northern; Its identification with the Accris or Hastuli- 

 fera of Abbot and Smith is probably illusory. What species 

 Smith intended, or if more than one, can only be ascertained by 

 breeding Georgia specimens and by a careful comparison, in all 

 stages, with the published figures. Guenee's Accricola is a name 

 proposed (after Harris) for Aceris of Smith, which, in any event, 

 is not the European species of that name. Caterpillar on elm, 

 chestnut, etc. 



2. A. Dactvlina, Gr , Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H., XVI., 239 

 (1874). This species is nearly as stout as the preceding, the color 

 is a bluer-gray, the hind wings in the male whitish, the markings 

 are more continuous, the squamation rougher. In no event can 

 it be a variety of the foregoing. I have seen no description of 

 the larva. " Fingered Dagger." Seems to be Northern in its 

 range. 



3. A. Insita, Walk., C. B. M., 61. This has apparently the 

 hind wings white in either sex. It is much whiter than either of 

 the other two species and had some resemblance to Smith's 

 figures of Aceris, but any identification of these is clearly prema- 

 ture under the circumstances. The larva is not known. My 

 specimens of the moth were from Massachusetts. I have ex- 

 amined Walker's type. I believe this is his only valid species in 

 the genus. 



Sub-genus JocJieacra Hubn. 



The type is the European A. Alni. 



I. A. Funeralis, G. and R. Proc. E. S. Phil., 6. 17, pi. 4, fig. 

 10; Grote Check List, 1875, plate i, fig. 1 (photo.); Americana, 

 Harr., Corn, edit. Scudd., 313, pi. 3, fig. (larva). 



Dr. Speyer notes the difference (Stett. Ent. Zeit., 200) be- 

 tween the two species in the moth stage. Lintner describes the 

 larva of the American species which, in this stage, closely resem- 

 bles the European form with its curious club-shaped body hairs, 

 looking like Zyga^na antennae, according to Lederer. Not only 

 is the Mss. name Americana preoccupied, but it is later in point 

 of publication and should not have appeared at all. The larva 

 of FiDicralis has been taken on hickory, elm, willow and oak. A 

 detailed comparison of it in this stage with the European Alni 



