NOCTUID^ OF CALIFORNIA III 



(Fantheinte, Raphia and Acronycta) 



JOHN B. SMITH, SC. D. 

 RUTGEh's college, new BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY 



The little group of genera here included are generally considered together, 

 although the Pantheiiiae are almost as well separated from the Noctuidae proper 

 as these are from some of the allied families. Raphia is, however, a distinctly 

 intermediate form in many characters, and for practical purjjoses warrants the 

 present association. 



The Californian species are not well known, and it is very likely that the list 

 will be materially increased when jiroper collecting has been done. None of the 

 species here considered come freely to light, nor arc they easily seen or taken by 

 the casual or general collector. They do not come to sugar ; are rarely seen on 

 flowers and, except when bred, are generally "accidental" captures, being noted 

 on tree trunks, fences or stones, at rest during the day. 



The larvae are usually quite striking in aj^pearance, altogether unlike the 

 cut-worm type, open feeders and not difficult to rear. A really good and repre- 

 sentative collection of the species of Acronycta cannot be secured except bj' 

 breeding. 



So far as eastern collections go, the representation of Californian species of 

 Acronycfa is extremely scant. None of the species are really well represented, and 

 most of them have a few specimens only. The collections made many years ago in 

 the Sierra Nevada region by Henry Edwards, form the backbone of our present 

 knowledge of the California fauna, and nearly all the described species are based 

 on insufficient material. There are two distinct elements represented: one that 

 comes down the mountain ranges from British America and does not extend much 

 if any south of Central California; the other a continuation of the desert fauna 

 of Arizona and New Mexico, which extends to the coast and probably through a 

 considerable part of the desert area of southern and southeastern California. 



During the decade or two last past, our knowledge of the Noctuid fauna of 

 Vancouver, Washington and Oregon to the north and of Arizona to the east and 

 southeast, has increased out of all proportion to that of California. Some mountain 

 sections of the State are almost absolutely unknown, entomologically, and from 

 the San Diego region I have recently had a lot of specimens for determination 

 that makes me feel that practically all the Arizona desert species may be expected 

 from it. 



(Since writing the above I am informed that the specimens sent me really 

 come from east of the mountains, yet not over ninety miles directly west of San 

 Diego.) 



Pantheinae. 



This sub-family, termed Mom'tnae by Hampson, differs essen- 

 tially from the remainder of the Noctuidae by having vein 



