THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 71 



There are at least three natural enemies which serve to keep it 

 in check. The largest of these is the Uni-banded Ichneumon-fly 

 (Ichneumon unifasciatovius, Say), a large black fly, 0.60 inch long, 

 and characterized by a white annulus about the middle of the an- 

 tenna, a large white spot about the middle of the thorax, and a white 

 band on the first joint of the abdomen. 



This fly oviposits in the larva of the Smeared Dagger, but the latter 

 never succumbs till after it has spun up and become a chrysalis, fori 

 have always obtained the Ichneumon from the chrysalis. The other 

 parasites are smaller and work differently. They each cause the larva 

 of the Smeared Dagger to die when about full grown, and its contracted 

 and hardened skin, which may often be seen during the winter, with 

 the head attached (Fig. 30, «), fastened to the twigs of apple and wil- 

 P^- 30 llow trees, forms a snug little house where the parasite under- 

 goes its transformations and through which it gnaws a round 

 hole (Fig. 30, 5), to escape the latter part of April. One of 

 these flies (Alewdes Rileyi, Oresson,) is described on page 

 382, of Volume II, of the Transactions of the American Ento- 

 & mological Society, and is of a uniform reddish-yellow color- 

 The other is a black fly of about the same size, but belonging 

 to an entirely different genus, PolyspMncta. It has two prom- 

 inent carina on the dorsum of the basal joint of the abdomen, and 

 the legs, except the hind tarsi and last half of hind tibiae are rufous.. 

 It is marked bicarinata in my MS., but I omit the description as I 

 do not possess the female. The first of these parasites is in its turn 

 preyed upon by a minute C7ialcisf\.y of a steel-blue color with honey- 

 yellow legs, which issues in great numbers through a very minute 

 hole, from the dried caterpillar skins. 



As I know of no description of oblinita in the English language, and as that of Guenee is 

 rather summary, I subjoin the following : 



Acronycta oblinita, Siu. and Abb. — Imago — Front wings oblong ; apex more or less prolonged ; 

 posterior margin sometimes rounded, sometimes straight; color ash-gray, caused by numerous 

 dark brown atoms more or less suffused on a white ground, from which the ordinary lines are' 

 barely discernible in the better marked individuals; a row of distinct black dots along posterior 

 border ; the ordinary spots represented by blurred marks or entirely obsolete ; the undulate line 

 across posterior fourth of wing distinct, and relieved inside by a pale coincident shade, with the 

 teeth quite aciculate and with the psispot so characteristic of the genus, but rarely traceable ; 

 fringe narrow-and generally entire. Hind wings pure white, with a faint row of dark spots around 

 posterior border. Under side of both wings white with faint fulvous tint and faint irrorations ; 

 each wins,- showing the brown discal spot and the row of points at posterior border. Head and tho- 

 rax speckled gray ; abdomen whitish-gray ; antenna short, simple in both sexes, gray above and 

 brown below ; palpi small. Two specimens with the front wings very dark, showing the ordinary 

 lines and spots conspicuously, and with the antenna? brown above as well as below. Average 

 length, 0.75 ; expanse, 1.75 inches. 



Described from numerous bred specimens. 



Larva — Prevailing color black. Each joint with a transverse dorsal crimson-red band across, 

 the middle from stigmata to stigmata, and containing six warts, each furnishing 10 or 12 or more 

 stiff yellow or fulvous bristles, and the two dorsal ones being farthest apart. A sub dorsal longitu- 

 dinal yellow line interrupted by this transverse band and at incisures, in such a manner that the black 

 dorsum appears somewhat diamond-shaped on each joint. A broad, wavy, bright-yellow stigma tal 

 line, containing a yellow bristle-bearing wart in middle of each joint. Lateral space occupied with 

 different sized pale yellow spots, largest towards dorsum. Head chesnut-brown. Venter crimson- 



