BIRCH CATERPILLARS. 503 



Germany, but part of the second brood apparently emerge and oviposit in late autumn, 

 while the rest hibernate as pupse. (Psyche, iv, p. 271,) 



Moth. — This is our most common species, an., may be known by its large size, the 

 simply pubescent uiaie antennte, its pale color, and the outer dentate line, that on 

 the fore wings being less sinuous than the corresponding line in B. umbroaaria. The 

 wings expand 1.50 to 1.60 inches. 



56. Eheumaplera hastata (Linn.). 



The following notes are by Mrs. Anna K. Dimmock (Psyche. Iv) : 



Rheumaptera hastata, Linn. (Syst. Nat., 1758, ed. 10, p. 527.) 



Schmiedlein (Naturges. deutsch. Schmett., 1805, pp. 101, 102) describes the larvae of 

 this species, which he states live socially upon birch between the leaves, which they 

 spin together. Packard (Mon. Geom. Moths, 1876, pp. 165-106) quotes Newman's de- 

 scription of the larva, in which it is stated to feed upon Betula alba and Myrica gale. 

 Kaltenbach (Pflanzenfeinde, 1872, pp. 413 and 599) compiles authorities for the follow- 

 ing additional food-plants of this species : Rhododendron hirsutum, Salix, and Vaccin- 

 ium uliginosum. A laivaof this species, taken on Betula alba, at Belmont, Mass., Aug. 

 4, 1883, pupated August 14, and appeared as imago May 17, 1884. This is one of the 

 species of Lepidoptera seen in swarms in parts of the White Mountains, New Hamp- 

 shire, where specimens were taken from July 8-14, 1874, in the greatest abundance. 



The description of the American larva has not yet been published.* 



57. Geometrid larva. 



Larva. — Body cylindrical, moderately slender. Head large, as wide as the body, 

 vertex deeply cleft, the tubercles large, conical, pointed. Prothoracic segment 

 broader than the body behind, swollen on each side in front. Segments transversely 

 wrinkled. On metathoracic segment a pair of very large and very rough lateral 

 tubercles, which are swollen, very prominent and minutely spiny, and a little darker 

 than the rest of the body. The penultimate segment, with a low, rough dorsal hump, 

 marked with two white conspicuous spots. Surface of the supra-anal plate rough, 

 with flattened tubercles on the edge, which is thickeued. Anal legs large and broad, 

 the two spines large but obtuse. Body covered with liue sharp granules. 



Color dull brick-red, front part of the segments dull whitish-gray, giving the body 

 a checkered appearance. Head reddish in front, the tubercles washed with grayish- 

 white and blackish. Length, 20™">. Brunswick, August 16. 



It may be recognized by its checkered, dull, birch-red body, and very large pro- 

 truding rough lateral tubercles on the hinder third of the body, and by the very 

 large head. 



58. Geometrid larva. 



Lnrva. — Like the foregoing, but the body smooth, not granulated, and head with a 

 hollow cleft, and body not checkered. Head as wide as prothorax, with a shallow 

 cleft; the conical tubercles low and broad. Prothorax broad, square in front, 

 swollen on each side into a tubercle. Body cylindrical, smooth, slightly wrinkled, 

 but not granulated. On fifth abdominal segment a pair of small lateral smooth 

 tubercles. A low slight rough dorsal hump on penultimate segment, but no other 

 tubercles ; supra-anal plate large and long, moderately smooth, conical edge thick- 

 ened a little. Anal legs short and broad, posterior spines broad, obtuse. Brick-red, 



*Operophtera boreata Hiibn. Kaltenbach (Pflanzenfeinde, 1872, p. 599) gives £e/wia 

 and Fagus as food-plants of this species. Packard (Mon. Geom. Moths, 1876, p. 199) 

 quotes Newman's description of the larva of this species. (Dimmock.) This species 

 has not yet been found in the larva state in America, and hence I do not agree with 

 Mrs. Dimmock in including it in a list of American birch insects. 



