(32 BULLETIN OP THK BROOKLYN EKT. SOC. 



ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF A IEW 

 OF OUE BOMBYCIDS. 



Among the Nortli American Bonibycids there are a few genera which are 

 identical with those in Europe, but for which new genera have been erected 

 here. The reasons for this are entirely groundless and can only tend to con- 

 fuse a beginner who is studying both our fauna and that of Europe. In our 

 studies and works I think it should be our aim to simplify matters as much 

 as possible, instead of burdening the student with new names that are not 

 required. 



The genus Clisioeampa, Curtis, is represented in Europe by several spe- 

 cies that are in every particular precisely like those of this genus, for instance 

 Bombyx Neustria, Linn., which is very close to our Olvdocampa SylvaUca, 

 Harris, and Bombyx Cfa.stren.sin, Linn. With the genus well defined and the 

 European species agreeing entirely with ours, it certainly is quite superfluous 

 |o erect and adopt a new genus for the American species of the same group. 

 I would therefore refer all of our species of Clisiccampa to the genus 

 Bonibyx, Boisd. 



Gastrcpacha Americana, Harris. The name Gastropacha, Oclts. applies 

 to a group of the Bombycids, which in Europe has been subdivided into sev- 

 eral genera. The above species would come under the genus La-siocampa, 

 Latr. and is even identical with the European llicifola, Linn., so that both 

 the generic and specific names must fall and the species be known as Lasic- 

 campa Ilicifolia, Linn, 



Parorgyia., Pack. This genus 1 think should be refered to DasycMra, 

 Stephens. It is true our Parorgyians are of rather slighter build in the male 

 sex than the majority of the species of DasycMra of Europe, but the charac- 

 teristics otherwise are the same, and the females of both bear a remarkable 

 resemblance to each other. Both Parorgyia. and DasycMra are at best but a 

 higher form of Orgyia, Oclis., the larvae give full evidence of this, audit 

 would be but proper to combine the two. The male of DasycMra selemt&ea, 

 Esper is slighter than others of that genus, and its proximity to Orgyia can 

 easily be traced in its markings, the same as in our species of Parorgyia. I 

 cannot therefore see why we should hold on to two generic names in this in- 

 stance, and would propose to refer all of our species of Parorgyia. to the ge- 

 nus Dasychira, Stephens. 



The fauna of our Country bears such close relationship to that. of Europe 

 that I think it is but just that we should revise our nomenclature and endea- 

 vor to bring it a little more in harmony with that of Europe. It certainly 

 looks strange to see species of the same genus in our collections bearing differ- 

 ent generic names in their representatives from this country and from Europe, 

 and a beginner, if he should acquire the species of such genera from both 

 countries, can only be confused in his endeavors to establish in his mind what 

 constitutes a GENUS. 



FR^D. TEPPER 



