190 



XVIII. On Eight Species of Noctuidae 



BY AUG. R. GKOTE. 

 [Read he/ore this Society, November 21, 1873.] 



1. Hadena sputator, Gw^e. 



Apamea? insignota, Walker p. 729 (n. b. 1.). 

 $ ? . — I have formerly iiiiited this form with Iladena dnbitaus, 

 Grote {Mamestra duiitans, Walker, p. 232), but a large series of 

 specimens induce me to separate it as distinct. The present form 

 must receive a new name, since that of insigjiata is used for a 

 species, which is most probaldy a Iladena, on page 727, by Mr. 

 Walker himself, while the name had also been previously used in 

 the group. This is the more usual species of the two (found under 

 bark with H, devastatoi") and has been sent me in number by Mr. J. 

 A. Pettit, from Grimsby, Canada. New York specimens have been 

 sent me by Mr. Mead, under the Number 95. I have taken it also 

 in the vicinity of Butfalo in August. It is the smaller (42 to 44 

 m. m.) form; the fore wings blackish aeneous lirown, and the 

 markings almost entirely lost; the most prominent feature of the 

 primaries is the contrasting pale powdery squamation of the reni- 

 form spot. Occasionally the orbicular is dusted with similar jaale 

 scales, which also relieve outwardly and narrowly the subterminal 

 line which is preceded by improminent lilackish unequal cuneiform 

 marks. My former determination of H. dubituns, h. s., p. 142, needs 

 no rectification. Hadeua dubitans is the lai'ger (48 to 50 m. m.) 

 form of the two, and I have it from the Middle States and Cali- 

 fornia. It is of a light smooth ferruginous brown, a little darker on 

 the costal region and terminal space. The transverse posterior line 

 is merely indicated by dots on the veins. In Hadena sputator, this 

 line is seen in fresh specimens to be indicated by a j^ale shading be- 

 tween geminate dark lines. The spots are, in H. dubitans, also, 

 more or less notably powdered with pale scales, but on account of 

 the paler color of the wings these do not so prominently contrast. 

 The hind wings are brownish fuscous, not blackish fuscous, as in 



