r>o 



surface. The wing-expanse is about If to 3 inches (ttS-SO"") and the 

 length of the body is about nine-tenths of an incli (23™'"). 



The eygs of this species, or for that matter of the genus Prodenia, 

 do not appear to have been described. From preserved specimens, 

 however, of an empty ^gg mass it is obvious that they are nearly dupli- 

 cates of Laphygnia in appearance, the mass itself l)eing cover(^d with 

 gray hairs as in the latter genus. 



TJte larra. — The general color of the larva is a peculiar olive or 

 greenish brown, more or less varia])le, finely lined with dark gray 

 and l)rown, and this as well as other species of the genus which will 

 be discussed arc all ornamented on the upper surface with a double 

 row of triangular, ^'elvety-black, sometimes greenish, spots, which 

 give them a striking appearance. The larv» are in fact so peculiarly 

 marked that it is not at all difficult to separate this genus from any 

 other coiuiuon geiuis of the same family occurring in the Eastern 



States. The larva of this species 

 may be distinguished in all 

 stages, except the final stage, by 

 the greater number of these 

 dorsal black spots and the lack 

 of striation so visible in the 

 other two. The body is cylin- 

 drical and smooth; the head is 

 small and polished black or dark 

 brown in front, shading off into 

 lighter ])rown at the posterior 

 end and at the sides, with the 

 frontal triangle margined with 

 white. The thoracic plate is 

 dull l)rown or blackish with the 

 piliferous spots and median line dull yellowish, and the second thoracic 

 segment has two usually large, deep-black dorsal spots. The dorsum 

 is also marked with a median row of small yellow dots. The stigmata 

 are black with pale centers, the thoracic legs brown, the abdominal 

 legs dark green externally, and the hooklets dark ])rown; inflated 

 larvae are rather dark reddish-brown. 



The length is between one and one-half and one and three-fourths 

 inches (38-4.5 """), the diameter 10-12""". 



Technical descriptions of the various stages of the X-avx-^ ha\'e l)een 

 kindly drawn up l)y Dr. H. G. Dyar, and are appended. 



The mature larva of a well-marked form is shown at figure 19, 

 c and ^/, a young larva being illustrated ]>y 1>. 



Fig. 19. — Pradrnia cnmmditin': a, moth; h, youiij: 

 larvn: r. mature larva, donsal view; '/, same 

 lateral view — all slightly ciilargcil (original). 



T.ARV.AL STAGES OP PRODENIA C'OMMELIN.li;. 



Stage I. — Head ruiiiidcil, l>ilt)l)eil, shining brown-Mack; clyiieus mo<lerate; month 

 slightly prnjectinir; antcnnn' siiiall, norinal; width, ().:*.""". Body slightly enlarged 



