148 



Heliolonche niodicella, Grotc. 



Habitat, California (coll. Mr. Ily. Edwards, No. 104). 



Heliothis (Melicleptria) celeris, Orote. 



i . — An exceedingly brilliantly colored species of tlie size of H. mitis. Fore 

 wings deep purple with the median and terminal spaces olivaceous. Very faint 

 indications of the median spots, but the usual blotch below the median nervure 

 is large, though not highly contrasted in color. Fringes purple. Hind wings 

 intense orange-red with paler fringes and faint indications of a paler band 

 near the base. Beneath the wings are both intense orange-red with the costal 

 edge and fringes of primaries purple. A faint transverse paler shade on the 

 hind wings as on upper surface. 



Exjpanse, 17 m. m. Hahitat, California (Mr. Hy. Edwards, No. 

 2585). Cannot be confounded with any other species on account of 

 its extremely yivid and partly unusual colors. The legs and body 

 vestiture are defective in my specimens. The pubescence seems to 

 be paler beneath than usual, above much as in the other species of 

 the genus. 



Heliothis (Melicleptria) (liminutivus, Orote. 



$ ? . — A small species resembling H. villosus, H. cardui or H. pauxillus. 

 Varies in color, so that while the fore wings are purple-red over black they 

 are sometimes merely yellowish bronze over the dead ground color. The 

 usual discal and inferior whitish patches, but the first (the orbicular spot) is 

 subobsolete, and there is a third nearer the base as in M. persimilis. The sub- 

 terminal line usually contrasts. Fringes tipped with whitish. Hind wings 

 black with white fringes and two variable white spots as in H. Californicus, 

 but greatly reduced. Beneath largely black, so that the median space appears 

 resolved into whitish spots. Apices of primaries and internal margin pale. 

 Apices of secondaries more largely whitish ; two whitish spots appear on the 

 median space. Body blackish ; thoracic vestiture subsericeous ; abdomen 

 fringed terminally with testaceous hair. 



Exjjanse, 13 to 18 m. m. Hahitat, California (Mr. Hy. Edwards, 

 No. 204). Ten specimens examined. Varies in the extent of the 

 pale blotches on the wings, these are sometimes fused on the secon- 

 daries. Three specimens differing by the olivaceous color of the 

 fore wings, obsolescence of the discal blotches and presence of the 



