NO. 1140. NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDAE— SMITH AND DYAR. 97 



ACRONYCTA PAUPERCULA Grote. 

 (Plates XII, fig. 2, male adult ; XVIII, fig. 29, leg; XXI, fig. 8, male genitalia. ) 



Apatela paupercula Grote, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1874, p. 197. — Harvey, Bull, 

 Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci., 1875, III, p. 4.— Grote, Papilio, 1883, III, p. 68. 



Ground color whitish, with ai» indetined reddish-lateous suffusion, 

 the disk of the thorax sometimes marked with this suffusing color. 

 The lateral edges of the patagiae are sometimes black. The i^rimaries 

 with most of tlie markings fairly evident; but the transverse anterior 

 line much less defined than the others. Basal line marked on the costa 

 by a black line, which is sometimes wanting or replaced by a pair of 

 luteous marks. Transverse anterior line geminate, as a whole evenly 

 oblique, but more or less irregular on tlie veins. It is not complete in 

 any of the specimens before me, but is usually well marked on the 

 costa, and the inner line at least is marked a little below its junction 

 with the basal streak. The median shade is marked by an oblique line 

 from the costa across the reniform and from that point it is usually 

 obsolete, though sometimes traceable to the inner margin. On the 

 costa it is blackish shaded; beyond that it is vaguely luteous. The 

 transverse posterior line is feebly geminate, the outer portion narrow, 

 black, more or less lunulated. The inner line is mostly defined by a 

 difference between the white included shade and the ground color of 

 the wing. The subterminal space is irregular and variably darker, so 

 that in some specimens no subterminal line is traceable. There is a 

 series of black terminal dots, beyond which the fringes are cut with 

 black. There is sometimes a narrow black streak from the transverse 

 posterior line to the outer margin opposite the cell; but this is never 

 I)rominent and in most instances altogether absent. The dagger mark 

 in the submedian interspace is distinct, and except in rare instances 

 crosses the transverse i)osterior line. There is an evident black basal 

 streak which is almost broken at its middle and evidently made up of 

 two portions. The orbicular is narrowly oblique, completely ringed by 

 blackish or luteous. The reniform is well marked on the inside, but 

 often somewhat vague outwardly. It is crescent rather than kidney 

 shai)ed. The two s[)ots are unusually close to each other and often 

 touch. Secondaries in the male whitish, in the female a little darker. 

 In both cases soiled outwardly. On the under side powdery, whitish, 

 the primaries inclined to be smoky. Secondaries with a distinct discal 

 spot; both wings with an outer dark line, which is much more evident 

 on the secondaries. 



Expanse, 1 to 1.25 inches (25 to 31 mm.). 



Habitat. — Texas, February, March, June, and July. 



This species most nearly resembles vinnuUi., but it has a different 

 ground color and differs in details of maculation. It is very difficult to 

 describe the color difference, because it is a matter of shading and tint- 

 ing; but there is no greenish in this species, that shade being replaced 

 Proc. N. M. vol. xxi 7 



