6 THE ABUTILON MOTH. 



as adult August 29, or in 8 days. Another pupated August 21 and 

 emerged August 30, or in 9 days. That was during a hot period, 

 and a shorter time was taken to transform than would be necessary 

 at a cooler time. 



The opinion expressed by Riley that this is exclusively a southern 

 species was modified somewhat by the same author when he found 

 the eggs and larvae quite abundantly in wSeptember, 1882, on Abutilon 

 avicennse at several localities in the District of Columbia. 



On September 21 the largest larva was nearly an inch long, and on October 3 it 

 spun up and transformed to pupa. The first moth issued October 15, and on October 

 16 several moths were captured at sugar. On October 22 quite a large number of 

 larvee of all sizes, from those just hatched to the nearly full-grown individuals, were 

 found feeding on the same plant at Ivy City, D. C, and October 25 eggs and young 

 larvae were found on the leaves of Malva rotundifolia at Giesboro Point, D. C. 

 The moths from these larvae began issuing December 1, and more than a dozen had 

 made their appearance by December 4. 



In the writer's experience this species appears to prefer Abutilon 

 to hollyhock. It does not spread to any great extent, and hibiscus 

 may not prove to be its natural food plant. 



This species was last seen on October 12, 1912, when Mr. M. M. 

 High sent one larva found on cowpea leaves at Gulf port. Miss., and 

 on October 31, 1912, when a moth issued from our own material at 

 Washington, D. C. 



A portion of a badly infested Abutilon plant is shown in Plate I 

 and a skeletonized leaf in Plate II. 



SYNONYMY. 



This species has been described under several different names, as 

 shown in the following synonymy, adapted from Hampson (8) : 



CosmopMLa erosa Iliibn., Zutr. Samml. exot. Schmett., vol. 2, p. 19, figs. 287, 288. 

 Cosmophila xanthindyma Boisd., Faun. Ent. Mad., p. 94, pi. 13, fig. 7; Moore, 



Lep. Ceyl., vol. 3, p. 155, figs. 1, 1 a, 6 (larva); C. & S. No. 2234. 

 Cosmophila indica Guen., Spec. Gen. Lep., Noct., vol. 2, p. 396. 

 Cosmophila auragoides Guen., Spec. Gen. Lep., Noct., vol. 2, p. 397. 

 Cirrcedia veriolosa Walk., List Lep. Ins. Brit. Mus., pt. 11, p. 750. 

 Cirroedia edentata Walk., List Lep. Ins. Brit. Mus., pt. 11, p. 750. 



It has, however, been generally mentioned in literature as Anomis 

 erosa Hiibn. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The moth so closely resembles the cotton moth {Alabama argil- 

 lacea Hiibn.) of the Southern States as to be readily mistaken for it 

 by anyone famiUar with the latter. The egg closely resembles that 

 of the cotton moth. The larva bears some resemblance to that of 

 the cotton moth, but more to that of the cabbage looper (Autographa 

 hrassicse, Riley), especially on account of the structure of the legs, as 



