1912] Davis — The Red-Margined Luna, a Ncio Variety 91 



THE RED-MARGINED LUNA, A NEW VARIETY. 



By William T. Davis, 

 Staten Island, N. Y. 



In the vicinity of New York City the Luna moth is double 

 brooded and occasionally there is also a third generation. The 

 earliest Staten Island record that we have for the emergence of 

 the moth out of doors, is April 20, 1891, and the next May 1, 1887. 

 Later May records are more numerous, but the majority of the 

 moths emerge in June and July. We long ago pointed out in the 

 Proceedings of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island 

 for April 13, 1895, that there was a spring form of Tropcea luna. 

 This color variety may be called rubromarginata, the Red-mar- 

 gined Luna. It differs in color from the typical luna, having the 

 costa red or reddish, and the outer margins of both the fore and 

 hind wings are also of a reddish or scarlet hue. From this extreme, 

 which is represented by three individuals in the author's collec- 

 tion, the variety grades into moths with the costa purplish and 

 the outer margins of both the fore and hind wings of the same 

 color, or of a reddish hue. The Lunas that have but the costa of 

 a purple color appear later in the season than those in which the 

 outer margins of both wings are deeply colored as weU. These 

 observations it should be understood refer to insects found out of 

 doors and not artificially raised. 



Dr. Alexander M. Ross in his "Classified Catalogue of the Lepi- 

 doptera of Canada," Toronto, 1872, which is now a scarce pub- 

 lication, has this to say of his Actias rossi, now considered a variety: 

 "I am satisfied this is a new species. The three specimens in my 

 collection I obtained in a grove of maple, birch, and oak, near 

 Toronto. The male is pure white, and expands three and a half 

 inches; the female is white, with a light yellowish tinge. In form 

 and marking, this moth closely resembles Actias luna. In my 

 work on 'The Butterflies and Moths of Canada,' a full description 

 of this beautiful insect is given." 



"The Butterflies and Moths of Canada" referred to above, did 

 not appear until 1873, and while there is a cut of the "Empress 

 Luna Moth" on page 42, and a description of Actias luna on page 



