108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Notes on the Yucca Borer (Megathymus Yucce, Walk.). 
By Cuas. V. Ritey, M.A., Ph.D.* 
(Continued from p. 86.) 
THE first notice of this insect that we have any record of 
is that by Boisduval and Le Conte, who figure it under the 
name of Eudamus? Yucce on plate 70 of their ‘ Iconographie.’ 
Though there is no text accompanying the plate, it is evident 
from the generic reference that the insect is considered Hes- 
perian, and no one could hesitate to so consider it if guided 
by the figures. In those of the imago the head is unnaturally 
broad, the body too sleuder, and the antenne with the club 
too slender and too much hooked. The wings in repose are 
thrown forward as in Thecla; the antenne erect, and the legs 
too slender. The larva has the large and nutant head, nar- 
row thoracic joints, and green, yellow and white longitudinal 
stripes so characteristic of Hesperid larve. The pupa has 
much the form and colour of Epargyreus Tityrus, Fabr. In 
short, these figures, in many respects, and those of the larva 
and pupa more particularly, are so unlike the insect considered 
in the present paper, that the question might be justly raised 
as to whether I am dealing with the Yucce of Boisduval and 
Le Conte, if the figures in the work in question were known to 
be generally trustworthy. But 1 have already shown how 
inaccurate and unreliable some of the said figures are ; while 
the food-plant, as indicated by the specific name, and the size, 
markings, and colour of the perfect insects in the plate, leave 
no doubt as to the identity of Yucce, B. and L., and the 
species here considered. Too much imagination entered 
into the composition of that plate, and the probability is that 
after Le Conte’s figures were received in Europe by Boisduyal, 
the latter by mistake coupled with Yucce the larva and pupa 
of some other large Southern Hesperian. 
The next reference to this insect is by Walker, in 1856, 
who is the first to briefly describe it as Castnii Yucce. In 
1871, Kirby referred it doubtingly .to A%giale, Feld., in 
Hesperide. In 1872, Scudder made it the type of a new 
genus (Megathymus) in Hesperide, without further diagnosis 
than the incorrect figures in the ‘lconographie’ alluded to. 
* From a Paper read before the Academy of Science of St. Louis, U.S,: 
communicated by the Author, 
