NO. 1140. NORTH AMERICAN NOCTUIDAE— SMITH AND DYAB. If) 7 



of iuterspacial black spots in the terminal space. There is a series of 

 black terminal spots, preceded by a white terminal line, tlie fringes 

 being cut with black. The ordinary si)ots are distinct, darker than 

 the rest of the wing. The orbicular is small or moderate in size, round, 

 black ringed, and usually with a dark center, which, as a rule, fills the 

 entire space. The reniform is large, indefinitely outlined, kidney-shaped, 

 and filled with black. Beyond the transverse anterior line a black 

 patch extends to the median shade just above the submedian vein. 

 Just above the anal angle a black patch extends from the transverse 

 posterior line to the outer margin. Secondaries smoky, paler in the 

 male, more yellowish in the female, with a slight brassy refiection. 

 Beneath yellowish, powdery, with a more or less broken outer line and 

 discal spot. 



Exj)anse, 1.32 to 1.5U inches (33 to 37 mm.). 



Habitat. — Canada, Jun to August; Massachusetts and New York, 

 May and June; Washington, District of Columbia, in May; central 

 Illinois, July 17; New Mexico; Portland, Oregon, April and May; 

 Colorado. 



The species is widely distributed and probably occurs over nearly the 

 entire United States. A specimen before me, not in the best condi- 

 tion, from New Mexico, indicates that ])ossibly there may be a similar 

 representative species from that region. It is easy to recognize this 

 insect by the very strong contrast between the white ground color and 

 the black lines and blotches, which give it a striking appearance. There 

 is little variation except in the extent of the black blotching. The 

 front of the head is slightly convex, the head itself a little retracted; 

 the palpi distinct and reaching to about the middle of the front. The 

 anterior leg of the male has the femur well developed, rather evenly 

 enlarged toward the base; the tibia stout, with the epii)hysis short, 

 inserted below the middle and reaching to the tip. The harpes are 

 moderate, obliquely rounded at tip ; the clasper, arising from an oblique 

 ridge, is single, pointed at the tip, and a little curved. There is a very 

 slight indication of an inferior process, but practically we have a single 

 curved hook. 



LARVA. 



Thaxter, Papilio, 1883, III, \k 15.— Packard, Fifth Kept. U. S. Ent. Comni., 

 1890, p. 460. 



Stage I. — "Head brown; body rather stout, not tapering, greenish 

 white; dorsal portion of joints 2, 5, 8, 9, and 12 red, the rest more or less 

 tinged with red, sparsely clothed with long blackish hairs." (Thaxter.) 



Stage II. — "Head dirty red, greenish anteriorily; body dirty green- 

 ish; segments distinct; dorsal patches dull reddish on superior portion, 

 the other segments, except 10 and 11, suffused with red, somewhat 

 thickly covered with tufts of stout black hairs." (Thaxter.) 



Stage III. — "Head dark blackish; joint 12 enlarged; much darker 

 than before, the red color becoming dark wine color, somewhat thickly 



