208 Injurious Insects. 



jnologist for all the minute particulars regarding the characteristics of each 

 family genus or species. 



Last season, I noticed that nearly every seed-pod on my tigridias was 

 punctured by some insect of whose habits I knew nothing ; but, to obtain 

 the desired information, I sent a quantity of the larvae, taken from the seed- 

 pods in the fall, to C. V. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri, whose 

 reply I append to this note, believing that it contains information of much 

 importance to every grower of bulbous plants. A. S. Fuller. 



RiDGEWOOD, N.J. 



The tigridia-seed larvce which you sent me last December have proved, 

 as I suspected they might, to be an entirely new species. Ever since the 

 loth of March, I have been breeding from them a pretty little moth be- 

 longing to the genus Penthina ; and enclose, in accordance with your request, 

 a brief description of the worm, its chrysalis, and moth, together with 

 some drawings, which will be of more value to you. For the fact that the 

 species has never been described I do not trust to my own opinion, but 

 have the assurance of Dr. A. S. Packard, jun., of" The American Naturalist," 

 who is one of our best micro-lepidopterists. 



The genus Penthina belongs to a sub-family of the Toriricid.^ (a large 

 group, whose larvEe live for the most part in seeds, buds, or between leaves, 

 which they fasten with their silken threads) : and it is characterized by the 

 antennae of the moths being simple ; their upper wings twice as long as 

 broad, and arching in front from the shoulder ; and by a tufted thorax. 

 They rest with the wings in the shape of a roof, but rounded above, and 

 somewhat approaching each other beyond the body. The sexes differ but 

 slightly. 



It is quite probable that this species is not confined to the tigridia, but 

 will be found to attack the whole Lily family, or at least the Iridacecz; and I 

 name it, therefore, in honor of yourself, — 



Pexthi.xa Fullerea. — Larva. — Average length exactly half an inch; 

 general color of a uniform dirty carneous, frequently inclining to yellow and to 

 green ; two wrinkles on each segment ; head jet-black, without a spot or shade ; 

 cervical shield also black, and occupying the whole surface of segment one ; 

 piliferous spots in the normal position, but scarcely observable, even with a lens, 

 other than by the hairs proceeding from them ; feet, legs, and venter of the 

 same color as upper surface. 



