180 Forty-second Report on the State Museum. [38] 



Alypia octomaculata Hubner: Zutr., 22, 1818, f. 119.— Harris: Entomolog. 

 Corr,, 1869, p. 285-6 (larva in different stages).— Stretch : Zyg.- 

 Bomb. N. A., 1873, p. 6, pi, 1, f. 7.— Eiley : 6th Eept. Ins. Mo., 1874, 

 pp. 94-96, f. 25.— Saunders: Ins. Inj. Fruits, 1883, p. 262-3, f. 272.— 

 Etal. 



Bombyx grata Fabricius : Ent. Syst., iii, Pt. i, 1793, p. 457, No. 158. 



Eudi'ij as grata Boisdtjval: Spec. Gen. Lep., i, 1836, p. 14. — Harris: Ins. 

 Inj. Veg., 1862, p. 427, pi. 6, f. 8.— Stretch : Zyg.-Bomb. N. A., 1873, 

 p. 147, pi. 7, f. 1.— BiLEy: Gth Eept. Ins. Mo., 1874, pp. 88-90, figs. 

 22, 23.— -Saunders : Ins. Inj. Fruits, 1883, pp. 258-261, figs. 268-270.— 

 Etal. 



The caterpillars of the two species of moths above named occur on 

 the grapevine and Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia), and are 

 often referred to, and have been frequently written of, as " the blue 

 caterpillars of the vine." Although they bear so strong a resem- 

 blance to one another as not to be distinguished apart by the ordinary 

 observer, and with difficulty by the entomologist,* yet the perfect 

 insects differ almost as widely in their general appearance as it is possi- 

 ble for moths to do. It is often of much importance that the winged form 

 of insects which are injurious in their larval stage should be generally 

 known, in order that, when seen abroad, they may be recognized as the 

 precursors of the injuries which are to follow in their train, and either 

 be captured for destruction or driven away from the plants that they 

 infest, or insecticidal application made that will arrest the career of 

 their young as soon as they emerge from the egg. Such knowledge 

 should be of particular service in preventing the attack of the eight- 

 spotted Forester, which is often disastrous to the grapevine, and most 

 annoying to one who has been watching and admiring the vigorous 

 growth of the graceful Ampelopsis in its upward climb, and finds too 

 late that further progress for the season has been arrested by the 

 unnoticed eating away of almost every one of the most thrifty and 

 tallest tips. Its moth is often to be seen as a conspicuous object from 

 its peculiar coloring, flying at all hours of the day, unlike most of the 

 moths, and hovering with a motion that attracts the eye, over the 

 foliage upon which it alights from time to time to deposit an egg. 



The Moths, 

 The figures given of the two moths will serve for their ready recog- 

 nition if in connection therewith their marked colors are mentioned. 

 Both pairs of wings and the fringes of Alypia octomaculata are 



* In writing of A. octomaculata larva, Dr. Melsheimer has remarked : " It resembles the 

 larva of Eudryas grata in its colorings and markings so much that before I was acquainted 

 with its manners, I have frequently taken the one for the other, and was not aware of 

 confounding them until the moths were disclosed." (Ilarris Entomolog. Corr., 1869, p. 116.) 



