360 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



the escape of the larvie from the trees and before the moths emerge, oi 

 not far from the 8th of October at this place (Washington, D. C). 



Larva. — Length, 13""". General color, reddish straw yellow. Head, light-brown- 

 ish ; tips of mandibles and a small spot about the eyes, blackish ; thoracic and anal 

 plates, light honey yellow. The piliferous tubercles on the dorsum are greatly 

 expanded laterally, so as to give them an elliptical form ; the anterior pair on both 

 the third and fourth segments are so expanded that the distance between them is 

 only equal to their length, the jiosterior pair on these segments nearly or quite oblit- 

 erated. Anterior warts of the fifth to the eleventh, inclusive, more rounded and 

 brought close together at the dorsal line ; those of the posterior side of these seg- 

 ments fusiform, the length quite equal to four times tbe thickness, and separated 

 from each other by a small space on the first of these segments, but approaching more 

 and more, they touch each other on the dorsum of the more posterior ones. The dorsal 

 tubercles of the twelfth segment are so fused together as to appear like two transverse 

 elevated bars. The remaining warts of the body are as usual, but considerably 

 enlarged, and each surmounted by a hue yellowish bristle. 



Pupa. — Length, 10""". Color, yellowish-brown. Abdominal segments on the dorsal 

 side armed on each edge with the usual row of spines. Anterior end rounded and 

 smooth, posterior end bluntly rounded, with a row of spines like the larger ones on 

 the segments before, extending two-thirds the way around. 



Moth. — Of a dark ashy brown color on the fore- wings, with a large patch of a dull 

 pinkish-white color on the outer part, with several small black spots near the middle 

 of this patch. Hind wings a little lighter than the basal portion of the fore- wings. 

 Expanse, 18 to 20™'" (about .75 inch). (Comstock.) 



3. Sciapteron robinice Hy. Edwards. 



This Mgen?in is extremely destructive in California and Nevada to 

 the white poplar {Populus alba) and to the downy poplar (Populus can- 

 escens), both of these species having been introduced into the Pacific 

 States as ornamental trees. A small avenue of the latter at San Lean- 

 dro, near San Francisco, was utterly destroyed by the Sciapteron, the 

 pupa cases being found sticking out of the holes by hundreds. The 

 perfect insect was rather scarce, as it emerges very early in the morn- 

 ing, and takes flight with the first gleam of sunshine. Sciap. robinice 

 also destroys the locust trees {Bobinia pseudacacia), a grove of this 

 species in Napa County being observed by me in a state bordering 

 upon destruction from the attacks of this insect. (H. Edwards.) 



Moth. — Upper side: Fore- wings opaque as in all of the genus, rich golden brown. 

 They are slightly darker along the costa, and have a faint purple reflection toward 

 the apex. Hind wings diaphanous, brightly opalescent, with a faint golden brown 

 longitudinal streak at posterior extremity of the cell. Costal edge pale yellow. 

 Fringe golden brown, x>a\e yellow at the base. Head golden yellow, as are the palpi 

 except at the base, where they are brownish. Thorax brown on the disk, golden 

 yellow in front and behind. Abdomen next the three basal segments blackish 

 brown, the second and third edged with yellow. The posterior segments are all 

 bright golden yellow, with the anal tuft a little darker. Under side: Fore-wings 

 golden orange, with a faint lemon yellow discal spot. Hind wings same as the upper. 

 Tarsi and tibiie golden yellow, blackish at their base. Antennse red brown above, 

 golden yellow beneath. Expanse of wings 1.35 inches. (Edwards.) 



