NO. 1140. NOR TH AMERICAN NOCTUIDAE— SMITH AND DYAR. 75 



ACRONYCTA BETULAE Riley. 



(Plates II, fig. 19, adult; V, figs. 4, 5, larva; XVI, fig. 9, Tenation ; XVII. fig. 19, leg; 

 XVIII, fig. 6, palpus; XX, fig. 6, male genitalia.) 



Acronycta hetulae Riley, Bull. Bkln. Ent. Soc, 1884, VII, p. 2, fig. 1. 



ApateJa heiulae Packard, Forest Insects, 1890, p. 495, fig. 176. 



Hyboma betulae Grote, Mitth., a. d. Roeui. Mus., Hildesh., 1896, No. 3, p. 7. 



Ground color a rather pale ocher yellow, shading into luteous. Head 

 and thorax even, the usual black line at the sides of the pali)i becoming 

 brown; primaries with the ordinary markings very little defined and 

 never contrasting. The basal line is feebly marked on tlie costa, or is 

 entirely absent. The transverse anterior line is geminate, oblicjue, 

 very even but very faintly marked; the defining lines are only a little 

 darker than the ground color, even on the costa. The median shade is 

 marked by an oblique dash on the costa extending to the reniform, and 

 in some specimens inwardly bent and traceable to the inner margin at 

 its middle. In most specimens this shade is not traceable beyond the 

 costa, and it is never more than dusky even here. The transverse pos- 

 terior line is narrow, rather sharply defined, irregular, distinctly toothed 

 on veins 3 and 4, and with a sharp inward bend in the submedian inter- 

 space, forming a blunt tooth. Beyond this line there is a dusky shade 

 which follows what would ordinarily be the subteiminal space were a 

 subterminal line defined. There are no terminal dots, and the merest 

 trace of a terminal line is indicated in some si)ecimens. There is no 

 basal dash ; the orbicular is absent or vaguely defined. The reniform 

 varies from an indefined lunule to a large reniform spot, and is of a lit- 

 tle richer brownish color than the ground. Secondaries of a paler 

 shade of luteous, with a vaguely indicated discal lunule and outer line. 

 On the under side we have the same general color, but paler, and the 

 usual outer line and discal spot. The outer line in this case is quite dis- 

 tinctly angulated at about its middle. 



Expanse, 1.40 to 1.48 inches (35 to 37 mm.). 



Habitat. — Washington, District of Columbia, March and August; 

 Long Island, New York; Pennsylvania; Missouri; Jefferson, New 

 Hampshire, 



Twelve specimens have been examined and offer very little variation. 

 It is simply a question of the greater or less distinctness of the mark- 

 ings. Its nearest ally in appearance is innotata ; but there is no chance 

 ot mistaking the species. In structure it resembles innotata in the 

 frontal characters and in the general character of the legs. The harpes 

 of the male taper quite regularly to a blunt tip. The ciasper, while of 

 the general shape of innotata, is more clumsy, and lacks the process 

 from the superior margin. 



