56 SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OP 



distance from each other, the two uppermost white, the two lowermost yellow ; a much less dis- 

 tinct dorsal white line, frequently obsolete in middle of segment, and always most distinct at the 

 divisions: a jet black line immediately above the first lateral white one, the dorsum near it, 

 thickly mottled with dull yellow, but becoming darker as it approaches the fine dorsal white line, 

 along each side of which it is perfectly black. Space between lateral light lines 1 and 2, dull 

 yellow, the white lines being relieved by a darker edge ; that between lines 2 and 3 almost black, 

 being but slightly mottled along the middle ; that between 3 and 4 yellow, mottled with pink- 

 brown, and appearing lighter than that between 1 and 2. Venter greenish-glaucous, mottled and 

 speckled with neutral color, especially near the edge of the 4th lateral line. Legs glassy and of 

 same color as venter, those on thoracic segments with black claws, those on abdomen with a large 

 shiny black spot on the outside. Stigmata oval, black, and placed in the 3d lateral light line. 

 Head pale grayish-yellow, speckled with confluent fuscous dots ; marked longitudinally by two 

 dark lines that commence at the corners of the mouth, approach each other towards the centre, 

 and again recede behind ; on each side are four minute polished black eyelets, placed on a light 

 crescent-shaped ridge, and from each side of this light ridge a dark mark extends more or less 

 among the confluent spots above. Described from numerous average living specimens. 



Imago — Front wings: general colortarnished yellowish-drab, inclining to russet ; sprinkled 

 with blackish atoms, the basal half of the costal margin being lighter than the rest. Ordinary 

 spots brighter than rest of wing, being either fulvous or rust-red, each having ordinarily a tar- 

 nished centre, the reniform or "kidney-shaped" spot, having at its lower border a conspicuous 

 white point, indistinctly surrounded by blackish, from which point the moth takes its name ; 

 between this point and the terminal border a transverse row of black dots (one on each vein) 

 much arcuated above; and inside and parallel with it a less distinct row, the dots forming 

 which, are between the nerves ; an oblique dark streak, shaded off gradually posteriorly, but re- 

 lieved anteriorly by the same bright color as the ordinary "spots" runs from the head of this row 

 of dots to the apex of the wing; nerves more or less marked with white, especially towards their 

 tips ; posterior or terminal border with a row of black spots between the nerves ; fringes same 

 color as wing, with a narrow dusky line inside their middle. Hind wings partly transparent. 

 smoky-brown, with a slight purplish lustre, the veins, lunule, and terminal border more dusky ; 

 fringes pale yellow with a dusky middle line. 



Under surfaces opalescent yellowish-white, the front wings shaded with smoky-gray, the costa 

 narrowly, and the terminal margin broadly freckled with dusky specks, the fringes and a shade 

 near the apex flesh-color, and a distinct dusky band across their outer one-fourth, narrower but 

 darker on the costa than in the middle of the wing : the hind wings with the lunule distinct and 

 also speckled anteriorly and posteriorly, the basal edge of the posterior portion well defined by a 

 Series of black dots on the nerves. 



Head and shoulders of same color as basal part of costa ; thorax same as front wings ; abdo- 

 men same as hind wings ; beneath all more uniformly gray. 



INSECTS INFESTING THE SWEET-POTATO. 



TORTOISE-BEETLES. 

 (Coleoptera, Cassidae.) 



In my First Report I described eleven different and distinct in- 

 sects which habitually prey on the common Irish Potato (Salanitm 

 tuberosum). I will now give an account of the worst insect enemies 

 of the Sweet-Potato (Ipomea latatus), all of which attack that plant 

 in this State. Before doing so, however, it will be as well to remark, 

 that one species belonging to the same family as those which feed on 

 the Sweet-Potato, and which is quite frequently met with in Missouri, 

 namely, the Clubbed Tortoise-beetle (Deloyala clavata, Oliv. Fig. 26,) 



