1021] Notes on Nocfuida' 157 



older species. Unfortunately the lack of males of modesta prevents 

 our checking their relationship hy an examination of the genitalia. 



Lygranthcecia meskeana and rufimedia Grt. 



These species ai'e treated as synonymous in Smith's "Synopsis of 

 the Xorth American TIeliothinfe" (Trans, Am. Ent. Soc. X, 23-")) 

 and the latter is regarded as an aberration of the former by Hani})- 

 son (Cat, I;ep, Phal. B, M. IV, 65), We have recently had reason 

 to consider these species, and find that the shades of the upper 

 surface are so variable as to ])e confusing. On the lower surface, 

 however, the pale areas are decidedl}^ yellowish in rufimedia, but 

 whitish in Mesheana. This difference appears to occur irrespective 

 of sex or locality, and seems to be the most convenient criterion 

 for the separation of the two. 



Hadenin^. 

 Lasionycta perplexa Sm. 



This species is listed in the genus Lasiestra Hampson, which is 

 characterized in the original description as having thoracic vesti- 

 ture of rough hair. Lasionycta Auriv., on the other hand, is said 

 to possess thoracic vestiture of hair and hair-like scales. The vesti- 

 ture of perplexa is distinctly scaly and much less rough than in 

 the other North American species which we retain in Lasiestra, and 

 we therefore advocate its transfer to Lasionycta. 



Nephelodes mendica n, sp. 



Head and thorax with pinkish-brown vestiture, the hairs pale 

 tipped. Abdomen more grayish with the usual clay-colored tinge. 



Primaries similar, sprinkled with blackish scales along the veins. 

 Median area filled with brown from radial stem to inner margin. 

 T. A, line pale, oblique, vague, T, P, line sinuate, geminate, 

 formed of a rather broad jiale line preceded by a fine, dark shade, 

 and very slightly crenulate. Orbicular and reniform variable in 

 shade, in the holotype pale, with a few darker sc^es in the center. 

 In one of the paratypes these spots are scarcely differentiated, 

 except the outer part of the reniform, which is pale, and in the 

 other they are concolorous, margined with darker scales. ]\Iedian 

 shade dark, vague. S. T. line faintly indicated by a contrasting 

 dark shade, which is most noticeable in the costal region. Fringes 



