516 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



Larva. — Head lartje, triangular, of a deep shiuing green, with lateral yellow- 

 stripes; a reddish spot at the apex, paler green and granulated on the back of the 

 head behind the stripes. Body apple green, thickly covered with small greenish- 

 yellow granulations; the anterior segments semi-transparent; on each side seven 

 faint greenish- yellow oblique stripes edged anteriorly with large granulations, 

 the central stripes having a reddish tinge; the last stripe wider than the rest and 

 terminating at the base of the caudal horn ; the latter recurved backwards at an an- 

 gle of 20°, purplish red and thickly granulated; the anal plate with a central elon- 

 gated black patch with a larger granulation on each side. Stigmata small, round, 

 and dull red. Under surface slightly paler than the upper, with a darker central 

 line. Feet pale green, spotted with red ; prologs greenish, semi-transparent. 

 Length, 1^ inches. 



4. Noctuid larva. 



Several specimens of this caterpillar were found ou the beech at 

 Brunswick, Me., the middle and last of August. 



Larva. — Body Hadena-like in shape. Head brown, marbled with black, smooth^ 

 rounded, rather small, not quite so wide as the prothoracic segment ; each thoracic 

 segment successively larger than the others, the body increasing in width towards 

 the middle, and gradually tapering to the end of the body. Surface of the body 

 rough and granulated ; abdominal segments 1 to 8 with a double dorsal and a lateral 

 row of rough tubercles; a high, narrow double dorsal tubercle on the eighth abdom- 

 inal segment. Color, reddish snuif-brown, with a black dorsal line widest on the pro- 

 thoracic segment, and ending on the mesothoracic, followed by a series of seven V- 

 shaped black dorsal median marks en echelon; the apex directed backwards from the 

 double tubercle on the back. Length, 15'"™. 



5. The bkrch span-worm. 

 Hyperetis nyssaria (Abbot and Smith). 



Although the alder is one of the food trees of this not uncommon 

 inch-worm, it is known to live on the beech. The specimen reared from 

 the alder by us is described below. 



I have reared this moth from a large span-worm found on the alder 

 September 6, at Brunswick, Me., which exactly resembled a small twig 

 of the same shrub. It pupated September 20, in a broad flattened oval 

 cocoon spun between the leaves, and the moth appeared at Providence 

 in the breeding cage May 15 of the following year. 



Larva. — Head rather small, much narrower than the bod}', somewhat flattened in 

 front. First thoracic considerably narrower than the second thoracic segment ; sec- 

 ond and third thoracic segments with lateral slight swellings ; the black spiracles are 

 situated on dusky swellings ; ou the fifth abdominal segment is a dusky dorsal hump, 

 ed"-ed in front with white, consisting of two rounded conical tubercles. Supra-anal 

 plate rounded with two stiff terminal sette; anal legs rather broad, with a setiferous 

 fleshy conical tubercle ou the upper edge. General color of head and body lilac-brown ; 

 head slightly more reddish, and on the back of each segment is a pair of whitish spots, 

 especially distinct on the second thoracic, but wanting on the first segment. Supra- 

 anal plate and anal legs sea-green, mottled with dusky spots. Length, 28""". 



p„j,rt._Body rather thick; mahogany-brown, ends of wings and legs reaching to 

 the posterior edge of the third abdominal segment. Terminal spine of the abdomen 

 ((•remaster) large, flattened beneath, broad, triangular ; the upper and under surface 

 with fine irregular wavy longitudinal ridges. Four lateral curved bristles aud a ter- 

 minal pair about twice as thick and long as the others. On the under side at the base 

 of the spine are two orbicular areas like flattened tubercles. Length, 12""". 



