LEPIDOPTERA OF NEW YORK AND NEIGHBORING STATES 563 



47. PYRAUSTA Schranck 

 (Botis, etc., in part) 



Palpi beak-like, exceeding head by rather more than its length, usually more 

 or less hairy (fig. 344); the third joint not well set off; eyes normal or* nearly 

 so; maxillary palpi porrect; front oblique but not conical or chisel-shaped. Hind 

 tibiae of male with spurs normal. Wings ample (fig. 324). Fore wing with all 

 veins normal, divergent ; M 2 not at all concave at origin, hardly approximate to 

 M 3 ; frenulum-hook often absent; hind wing with M and M 3 only shortly approxi- 

 mate. No decided secondary sexual characters. Markings various. 



In the first group of the genus the markings are, except as noted, single, dark, 

 on a somewhat lighter ground, with a more or less distinct paler shade beyond 

 the postmedial line ; antemedial line excurved, more or less waved, from costa at 

 a quarter way out to inner margin before a third way out; the postmedial waved 

 or dentate, well out, and concave opposite cell; excurved from M t to Cu,, then 

 running in deeply to below end of cell above Cu 2 ; nearly perpendicular to inner 

 margin; the subterminal line distinct, diffuse, or absent. The orbicular and 

 reniform are normal in position, the former circular and the latter kidney shaped. 

 The hind wing is similar or somewhat paler, with the antemedial line absent; 

 a curved discal bar confined to the discocellular vein; no dark spot on m-cu; 

 postmedial line running much as in fore wing, nearer outer margin than end of 

 cell across M 2 to Cu 1; concave above and retracted below Cu 2 ; subterminal as in 

 fore wing. The under side is much like the upper side, but with the markings 

 more diffuse and the fore wing shaded with fuscous. The species are very 

 close and some are doubtful. Of the Phlyctaemas, P. teiTealis, extricalis, theseu- 

 salis, and helvalis have similar patterns except as noted, also the Croeidophoras, 

 Pilocrocis ramentalis, Pachyzancla perfusalis and bipunctalis, the Syleptas, etc. 



Key to species of Pyrausta and similar forms 



1. Both wings with basal half yellow and outer half brown. 



( Cindaphia bicoloralis ) . 



1. Basal half of wings not contrastingly paler than outer half. 

 2. Ground black; rarely, somewhat grayish on fore wing. 



3. White fringe only, or a faint postmedial shade also 30. niveicilialis. 



3. Grayish black, with darker postmedial line (Perispasta cceculalis). 



3. Two white spots on each wing 29. funebris. 



3. A white sinuous postmedial line and other markings. 



(Diasemia janatsiaUf). 



2. Immaculate dark lead gray; base dusted with white 32. demantrialis. 



2. Ground not black (rarely, purple-black marked with yellow). 



3. Fore wing with longitudinal streaks only (Phlyctuenia acutella) . 



3. Fore wing with transverse markings, with spots, or immaculate. 



4. Hind wing nearly immaculate yellow, contrasting with the brown fore 



wing * ( Tholeria reversalis ) . 



4. Hind wing not yellow and contrasting with the dark fore wing. 



5. Hind wing orange-red, without pattern 23. tyralis. 



5. Hind wing bright orange to bright yellow; if yellow, marked with 



black or blackish. 

 6. Hind wing with dark border and fine postmedial line only; fringe 



of fore wing dark. 



7. Fore wing with a yellow patch beyond cell, before the post- 

 medial line, which is often obscure above, but always distinct 

 and strongly excurved on under side 20. ochosalis. 



