350 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



cal spots with yellow centers and a more or less curved or oblique line, froTn 

 the apex to its outer third, of the fore wings; an anal patch and a discal 

 spot with an oblique line touching it on the hind wings. The yellow 

 background is more or less spotted with dark brown, specially on the 

 primaries. The males are readily indicated by their more feathery 

 antennae and by the larger areas of purplish brown, specially on the fore; 

 wing-, where tlie basal patch extends to the discal spot, and frequently to 

 the point where the oblique line touches the posterior margin of the wing. 

 The larger portion of the area lying between this oblique line and the 

 outer margin of the wing is purple brown, there being only a small yellow 

 area within the posterior angle. The purple brown usually extends to 

 the tip of the abdomen. 



Two varieties of this insect have been described : didyma by Beauvois 

 and jiobilis by Ncumoegen; the latter has also described an aberrant 

 form under the w^mc, punc/atissima (see citation). 



Distribution. The recorded distribution of this insect shows that it 

 ranges over the greater portion of the United States and into Canada. 

 Although nowhere very common, it appears to be more abundant in the 

 latitude of southern New York and in Pennsylvania. In both Mass- 

 achusetts and Canada it is reported to be very rare. It has been recorded 

 from the following states: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, 

 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Texas; and from 

 Belleville, Ontario. As it has been reported on cotton without giving the 

 locality, it is probably known to occur in one or more of the cotton 

 states. Morris gives the United States as its habitat. 



Food-habits of the larva. This species has a very wide range of 

 food-plants. Mr Beutenmiiller (see citation) has published a list of them, 

 comprising 49 species distributed through 12 orders. In addition, it has 

 been found on three other species of plants belonging to as many orders 

 not represented in the list referred to above, thus giving a total of 52 

 species representing 15 natural orders. Though found on so many 

 plants, the white pine {P'miis strobus) appears to be its favorite in the 

 north and species of oak in the south. Mr Gentry records (see citation) 

 that in the vicinity of Germantown, Pa., the larvae of this insect appear 

 to have deserted the pine for the red maple in the past few years. They 

 also seem to have a liking for animal food. Mr Wailly (see citation) 

 records an instance of cannibalism in the presence of abundant food, and 

 also of this caterpillar feeding on the full grown larvae of Telea 

 polypheinus. 



