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Notes on some Species of Geometridae, No. 3 



V>y Kf.v. (;ko. D. Hulst. 



In following our Geometridae through the Acidalinae and Caberinae. 

 I have found not a few problems which it has been impossible for me to 

 solve satisfactorily to myself. Among these has been the determination 

 of the reach of species variation. In the genera Acidalia, Scmiothisa. 

 and Phasiane more particularly, species seem to have no limitations. 

 There is great variability, and so called species seem in many cases to 

 overlap each other, so that widely diverse forms, apparently subgeneric 

 in difference, exist with an almost if not quite unbroken intergradation. 



But while this is true, and determination is involved in difficulty, 

 and becomes largely a matter of individual opinion, some determinations 

 and conclusions have been reached from a study of the literature, and a 

 comparison of large numbers of specimens which can it seems to me be 

 relied upon. Some of these I give in the following notes. 



Euphavessa mendida, Walk. ( udaria mendica, C. B. M. Bom bye. 

 p. 576, 1854.) My reasons for believing this to be a Geometer arc 

 given Ento. Am. Vol. I, p. 167. I would give ita place in the list next 

 to Ephyra, on account of shape of pupa, and the habit common to both 

 of suspending the pupa by the tail, and with a girth of silk about the 

 thorax, after the fashion of the Papilioms. 



Ephyra cidicaria, Guen. (Guen, Phal. i, 407. 1857.) Mr. Hy. 

 Edwards has a specimen from Ga. which exactly meets the description 

 <:)f (iuenee. But it is without doubt the same, with variety differenceon- 

 Iv, as what is known as E. myrtaria, E. culkaria was described Phal. I. 

 407, while E. myrtaria was described Phal. I. 408. The name will 

 therefore be E. culicaria with myrtaria as the name of a variety. 



Acidalia ossularia, (Hiibn. Geyer, Zutr. f 909, 910, 1837.) This 

 is a small, very widely spread, and quite variable species. It is found 

 all over the country, and seems to be ver}' common in Texas and Arizo- 

 na. It varies much in the width and distinctness of the cross lines. 

 While unable to satisfy myself by the descriptions alone, I would not be 

 surprised if .4. w<?^«//^rarm. Walk. ^-i. relraciaria. Walk., as well as 

 some others of his unidentified species, might be synoi\vms of this one. 



Acidalia iongipennala,, Pack. (5th Rept. Peab. Acad. Sci. p. 71. 

 1873.) I ^"^ unable to separate this species, and A. peralbata, Pack. I 

 do not think they can be separated, even as varietal forms of 

 the same species. Certainly the very frail distinctions upon which b\ 

 comparison Dr. Packard endeavors lb show their difference are variable, 

 and are not shown in his figures Mon. Geom. pi. 10, f. 47, 48. 



EntoiTioloj,'i(:a .\nieiicana. 31 Ftbiuaiy 18S7. 



