﻿OP THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



13: 



smaller size are sometimes found, resemblinofthe figure and description given by Prof. 

 Peck in which the whitish bands and spots are wanting, and there are three interrupted, 

 dusky lines across the fore-wings, with an oblique, blackish dash near the tip. Per- 

 haps they constitute a different species from that of thetrue Canker-worm moth. Should 

 this be the case, the latter may be called Anisopteryx pometariay* The portions of 

 this passage which I liave italicized are well calculated to mislead, for the term "true 

 Canker-worm Moth," should only apply, in justice, to that described as such by Prof. 

 Peck, and not, as Harris here applies it, to the other species. Indeed, most subsequent 

 writers, including Fitch, Packard, Mann, and myself.f were misled by the language, 

 and took it for granted that the name pometaria was proposed for the smaller form — a 

 mistake first clearly pointed out by Mr. H. K. Morrison, of Cambridge. J 



So long as the male moths onlj' were carelessly compared, there was always a 

 question as to whether the differences were varietal or specific — 1st, because the gen- 

 eral resemblance is strong ; 2J, because each species varies considerably both in size 

 and ornamentation ; 3d, because the wing-scales, especially of one species, easily rub off, 

 and perfect specimens, captured at large, are uncommon. More careful comparisons 

 made in 1873 by Mr. Mann {loc. cit.) between both sexes, established the specific differ- 

 ences of the two ; and further comparisons, by myself,^ of the preparatory states, 

 showed these differences to be still more remarkable than had been supposed. During 

 the present year I have been able to make still more careful comparisons, which s-how 

 the two insects to be so very distinct that they must be separated generically. These 

 differences are set forth in the following comparative columns. They show that joome- 

 taria &\one can be retained in the genus Anisopteryx, and for vernata I have, therefore^ 

 -erected a new genus, Paleacrita. 



TALEACRITA VKRNATA. 



Elliptic-ovoid, the shell of delicate tex- 

 ture and quite yielding ; generally ap- 

 pearing shagreened or irregularly im- 

 pressed ; nacreous, and laid in irregular 

 masses in secreted places. (Fig. 3, b.) 



Egg. 



ANISOPTERYX POMETARIA. 



Squarely docked at top, with a central 

 puncture and a brown circle near the bor- 

 der ; of firm texture, and laid side by side 

 in regular rows and compact batches, and 

 generally exposed. (Fig. 4. a, 6, c.) 



[rig. 3.] 



[Fig. •!.] 



No. prolegs on joint 8. (Fig. 3, a.) 



Larva. 



With a pair of short but distinct pro- 

 legs on joint 8. (Fig. 4, /.) 



* Insects Injurious to Vegetation, 3i'd ed. p. 462. 



t Vide Fitch, Rep. Ill, § 3S; Packard's Guide, 3rd ed. p. 321; Mann. Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 

 XV. p. 382, Riley; Mo. Rep. vi. p. 29. 



JProc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. vol. xvi. p. 204. 

 § 7th Mo. Ent. Rep. , pp. 80-SS. 



