77 



VI!. On Noctuidae from the Pacific Coast of North 



America 



BY AUG. E. GROTE. 

 [Read before this Society, Dec. 17, 1875.] 



Ix the Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 6 and 7, I published a list 

 of 147 sjiecies, for the most part new to science, from the Pacific 

 Coast. I have since received from Mr. Henry Edwards of San 

 Francisco, a valuable collection of Noctuidae for determination, 

 and upon which the present observations are based. Types and 

 determined specimens are returned to Mr. Edwards for the benefit 

 of the student in California, where it is hoped that the interest 

 recently displayed in this group of insects may be maintained until 

 the Californian fauna be completely known. At present I can hardly 

 venture to draw general conclusions with regard to the geograph- 

 ical distribution of the species. 



In Mr. Edwards' collection I recognize the following Eastern 

 forms, which have now an extended range accorded to them: 

 Kejihelodes minimis, 3990, Washington Territory; Hadena Joculata 

 var., 5980, Oregon ; Hadena devastatrix, 5630, Oregon ; Oncocnemis 

 occata, 4473, California; Sjnagueia tortricina, 2578, California; 

 Agrotis campestris, 5644, "Vancouver Island ; Agrotift messoria, 5619, 

 Oregon ; Agrotis suhgotMca, 4656, Vancouver Island ; Agrotis 

 brocha, 5594, Vancouver Island; Agrotis muraenula, 5996, Oregon; 

 Agrotis alhipen7iis, 5611, California; Agrotis haja, 5595, Vancou- 

 ver; Agrotis occulta, 5591, Vancouver; Xantliia togata, 5590, Van- 

 couver; EiqjUxia lucipara, 599S, Oregon. I have also examined 

 the type of Heliotliis Crotcliii; it is smaller and darker than the 

 Texan cupes, but I think they will be found identical.* 



* The collection of this Society contains the type of the following species from Tex;is : 



Agrotis nigroTittata n. s. 



i 9 .—Belongs tojthe' section Anicla. Fore wings pale whitish yellowish gray, with mar- 

 bling or freckling of darker scales ; ornamentation obliterate ; two black points indicate the 

 reniform ; no black line at base of fringes which are concolorous ; hind wings pure milk- 

 white, silky, with white fringes ; head and thorax concolorous with fore wings ; a distinct 

 black narrow band at base of collar; abdomen white, yellowish at anus; legs dusky; palpi 

 black at the sides ; fore wings gray beneath ; hind wings white, gray on costal region. In one 

 specimen the reniform points are absent. 



Expanse, 30 to 33 m. m. Texas (Belfrage, No. 515). 



It is not possible that this is digna, because Mr. Morrison says that species has the collar 

 "white above, the lower half gray," and "a black line at the base of the fringe." Eight or 

 ten specimen's examined. 



