54 Key to Families of North American Insects. 



45. Ocelli present, on the vertex close to the eyes 46 



Ocelli absent 53 



46. Subcosta and radius in hind wing connected by a strong crossvein 47 



Subcosta and radius in hind wing fused at least slightly and usually for some 



distance along the cell 48 



47. Tongue absent (see couplet 54) (LIP ARID JE) LYMANTRIUXE, part. 



Tongue present; palpi reaching far above the vertex, the third joint naked; a 



species is said to occur in North America Hi PSID.5S 



48. Fusion of the subcosta and radius extending to the middle of the cell, or beyond; 



stout-bodied moths of moderate size, with the wings usually marked in bold 

 design of contrasting colors. Tiger moths, Woolly-bear caterpillars. (Utethe- 

 isa, Estigmene, Apantesis, Halisiddta, Diacrisia (=Spilosoma) [D. virginica, 

 White ermine moth], Hyphantria [H. cunea, Fall web-worm].) . .ARCTimflS 

 Fusion of subcosta and radius falling short of the middle of the cell 49 



49. Fusion of subcosta and radius exceeding the basal fifth of the cell 50 



Fusion of subcosta and radius less than one-fifth the length of the cell, or 



imperfect 51 



50. Hind tarsus stout, not ordinarily over eight times as long as thick; tibial spurs 



often reduced; subcosta greatly swollen at base (see couplet 48). 



ARCTIID^;, part 



Hind tarsus more slender; tibial spurs long; subcosta basally not more than 

 twice as thick as the radius (see couplet 52) NOCTUTD^), part 



51. Swollen spiracles at base of abdomen (tympanic bullse) enlarged dorsally, 



visible from above as two rounded elevations on the first abdominal seg- 

 ment; moderate, or rather large, gaily colored moths, often with metallic 



tints and bold markings. (Gnophaela.) PERICOPEXE 



Tympanic bullae inconspicuous 52 



52. White or yellow moths with the palpi not reaching the middle of the smoothly 



scaled front; cubitus four-branched in both wings. (Haplda.) 



ARCTIID.S;, part 



Palpi longer; cubitus in hind wing three-branched, or ground color of wings 

 gray; stout moths, generally of sombre brown or gray color, the hind wings 

 sometimes enlivened by large pale or colored patches; a very extensive 

 family. Owlet Moths, Moths of cut-worms, army-worms, etc. (Apatela 

 Hadena, Prodenia, Laphygma [L. frugiperda, Fall army-worm], Agrdtis 

 [several common cut-worms], Peridrdma [P. saucia, Variegated cut-worm], 

 Helifiphila [H. unipuncta, Army-worm], Xylina [X. antennata, Green fruit- 

 worm], Papaipema [P. nitela, Stalk-borer], Heli&this [//. obsoleta, Corn 

 ear-worm and Cotton boll-worm], Alabama (= Aletia) [A. argillacea, Cotton- 

 worm], Catocala.) (PI. 9, fig. 202) (Including NYCTEOLIDtf.) 



NOCTUIDJE 



53. Fore wing with raised tufts of scales; subcosta usually fused with the radius 



to near the middle of the cell, but free at base; small moths with rather 

 narrow fore wings, and short, rounded hind wings. (Celama, N61a.) (PL 



11, fig. 233.) NOLIIXS; 



Fore wing without raised tufts of scales, smoothly scaled throughout 54 



