1913] Barnes and McDunnough — Western Catocala 191 



this a dark line in a paler field is distinguishable. Beneath pinkish white with the 

 usual dark blotches. Length, 30 mm. 



Stage V. Head pale ochreous, the upper portion of the lobes tinged with 

 orange, marbled with dark purple-gray with black lateral line descending as far as 

 the ocelli; slight central black line to clypeus. Body very warty both dorsally 

 and laterally, with deep lateral indentations above and below the spiracular area, 

 pale gray, marbled with olive brown, maculation quite similar to that of the pre- 

 ceding stage; dorsal stripe pale gray, irregular, broadening at rear of each segment 

 into diamond-patches which are tinged with ochreous on abdominal segments 1-4; 

 subdorsal stripe dark brownish, broad, waved, prominent behind tubercle II on 

 abdominal segments 1-3, 5 and 8, paler and more diffuse on the other segments; 

 dark spiracular stripe, paler on the thoracic segments, abdominal segment 4, the 

 anterior portion of 5 and posterior portion of 6; abdominal segments more or less 

 humped dorsally between tubercules II, most so on 5 and 8; tubercles situated on a 

 raised hump, tinged with ochreous. Lateral filaments whitish. Beneath deep 

 purple-pink with blackish central patches. Length mature, 40 mm. 



Food-plant: Buds and catkins of burr-oak. 



The young larvae emerge with the first warmth of spring, all 

 the ova hatching within a short period of each other; the growth 

 is very rapid, maturity being reached in less than a month; the 

 pupal stage is about three weeks. 



The species is very easy to raise, the critical period being just 

 before attaining full growth, when the larvae seem liable to intes- 

 tinal troubles which are apparently more or less contagious. In 

 our brood there was also a noticeable difficulty in properly shed- 

 ding the larval skin in transforming into the pupa. 



Catocala aholibah Stkr. 



Ovum. Dark dirty green, surface of egg strongly granulate but without ribs; 

 micropylar area scarcely visible as a rosette of minute hexagonal cells. Diameter, 

 2 mm. 



Stage I. Head deep brown, prothoracic plate black; body bluish-gray with 

 brown dorsal line, three brown lateral lines of which the middle one is most distinct; 

 two similar subspiracular lines the upper one rather curved and much broken; 

 abdominal segments 1-4 crossed by broken broad transverse brownish bands, heavi- 

 est laterally; tubercles large, black, with long seta?. Beneath pale with central 

 dark blotches. Length, 6 mm. 



Stage II. Head pale brown, strongly veined with black-brown, forming a line 

 on each side arising from the mouth and curving outwards and upwards, broadest 

 towards apex of lobes; central dark line to clypeus; body pale brown, slightly 

 banded with brown on abdominal segments as before; a brown dorsal line broad- 

 ening slightly towards rear of each segment and irregularly bordered with creamy, 

 forming more or less distinct diamond-shaped patches as usual; two pale slightly 



