Sphingidae 



has at the anal extremity a very long caudal horn, which begins 

 gradually to curl up, as represented in the accompanying cut, 

 and after the third molt entirely disappears, being replaced by 

 a lenticular shining eye-like prominence. In the latter stages of 

 development the larvae frequently become dark brown, and 

 Professor Riley maintains that this is invariably the case in the 

 neighborhood of the city of St. Louis. It is not invariably the 

 case in other localities, as I know from experience. I have 

 reared a number of specimens in which the green color perdured 

 to the time of pupation, though the brown form is very common. 

 Like the larva of the following species, the caterpillar of P. 

 satellitia has the power of withdrawing the first two segments 

 of its body into the third, when at rest, or when suddenly alarmed. 

 When crawling or feeding the first segments are protruded, as 

 represented in the cut by the larger figure. 



Several local races of P. satellitia are recognized as occurring 

 in the Antilles and in South America, one of these, for which 

 Mr. Grote proposed the name posticatus, occurs in Florida, as 

 well as in Cuba and the Bahamas. It may be distinguished from 

 the form pandoms by its slighter build, its narrower wings, which 

 in the case of the primaries have the outer margin straighter than 

 in pandorus, and by the presence of a large roseate spot cover- 

 ing the anal angle of the secondaries. There are other differences 

 of a minor character, but those mentioned will enable the student 

 to discriminate this form from the one we have figured. 



(2) Pholus achemon Drury, Plate III, Fig. 5, $ . (The 

 Achemon Sphinx.) 



Syn. crantor Cramer. 



Like the preceding species the caterpillar of this beautiful 

 hawkmoth feeds upon vines, and shows especial fondness for 



Fig. 28. Larva of Pholus achemon. (After Riley.) 



the grape. It is also addicted to the Virginia creeper (Ampe- 

 lopsis). The description of the habits of the larva given by 



66 



