RILEY — NOTES ON THE YUCCA BORER. 341 



had not virtually been named until described by Walker, others 

 take a different view, and perhaps w^ith reason, since a good 

 figure, so far as recognition of the thing intended is concerned, is 

 infinitely more definite than the majority of the earlier descrip- 

 tions of species in entomology. 



In conclusion, I take pleasure in expressing my obligations to 

 Mr. W. F. Kirby of Dublin, Mr. John A. Ryder of Philadelphia, 

 and Mr. Herman Strecker of Reading, Pa., for kind assistance in 

 my studies of this insect ; and more particularly to my esteemed 

 correspondent Dr. J. H. Mellichamp of Blufll;on, S. C, for his 

 efforts in furnishing material, and to my friend Mr. S. H. Scud- 

 der of Cambridge, Mass., for valuable aid, always freely given. 



APPENDIX. 



As a matter of convenience and future reference, especially for tliose 

 living where the Yucca Borer occurs, and allied species are likely to be 

 found, and where scientific libraries are nearly unknown, — I have brought 

 together in this appendix the descriptions of those species that belong to 

 the Castnioides. It will be seen that u^giale Felder comes very close to 

 Megathymus. The antennae, however, appear to have the club more fal- 

 cate; while the legs, in having the tibiae unarmed and hairy, and the 

 wings, in being broader, more triangular, with the posterior border more 

 convex, would seem to distinguish ^Egiale. Felder's Kollari, as Mr. 

 Kirby informs me, is believed by Mr. Butler to be synonymous with 

 Walker's Hesferiarts — a belief founded, no doubt, on comparison of the 

 tvpes, since Walker's description is very insufficient. 



Castnia yucccB. — Nigro-fusca; antennae capitatae, non falcatae; alae basi 

 subfulvescentes, anticae fascia subapicali incompleta antice duplicata tes- 

 tacea, posticae testaceo-marginatae. 



Blackish-brown. Antennae capitate, not falcate; middle part whitish. 

 Wings with a slight dingy tawny hue at the base. F.w. with a subapical, 

 pale, incomplete, testaceous band, which is forked in front. H.w. with 

 pale testaceous borders. U.S. with hoary borders, and with a triangular 

 white subcostal spot. Length of body, 10-12 lines; of wings, 21-28 lines. 



This species connects the Castnice with the HespericB. Georgia. — 

 [Walker, List Lep. Het. B. M. vii., p. 1583 (1S56). Belongs to Mega- 

 thymus. 



^^giale Felder. 



Caput mediocre, porrectum, villosum. 



Oculi nudi, prominentes. 



Antennae crassiusculae, sat longae, costae dimidium aequantes, in clavam 



