18 



UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEtTM BULLETIN 207 



grayish white spot on costa before subterminal line 

 (and extended to include the discal spots) ; sex-scaling 

 on underside of wing as in caryae, except that the 

 streak along top of cell is somewhat obscured by an 

 overlay of pale scales. Under these it is black (not 

 "pale gray"as stated by Dyar) and no narrower than 

 that of caryae. 



The only authentic specimens I have seen are those 

 of the original type series. They are in excellent con- 

 dition. The other specimens which Dyar later asso- 

 ciated with them are all typical caryae. The note 

 with the type lot ("Chittenden 250") tells nothing 

 about the larval habits, so we do not know whether 

 there are any biological characters to distinguish 

 evanescentella from caryae. We shall have to hold the 

 name until tbe biology is thoroughly studied. 



Type locality: Orlando, Fla. (May) (type in 

 USNM). 



Food plant: Pecan. 



17. Acrobasis stigmella Dyar 



FlGtTKB 148 



Acrobasis stigmella Dyar, Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 10, 

 p. 43, 1908.— Forbes, Cornell Mem. 68, p. 616, 1923.— 

 McDunnough, Check list. No. 6089, 1939. 



Fore wing purplish gray; the basal area very dark 

 (darker than remainder of wing) ; scale ridge scarcely 

 darker, its outer margin edged wdth dull rod; discal dots 

 obscure; subterminal hne very faint. Hind wing of 

 male pale smoky fuscous with a sUght ocherous tint; 

 of female darker and without the ocherous tint on 

 upper surface. 



On the male the upper surface of the head is yellowish 

 white, the thorax, purplish gray. On the female the 

 head and thorax are concolorous, purphsh gray. 

 Alar expanse, 17-21 mm. 



Type locality: Fort Lee, N. J. (type lost). 



Food plant: Hickory. 



Distribution: New Jersey; Connecticut, East River 

 (Aug.) ; District of Columbia, Washington (May, June) , 

 Virginia, Falls Church (Jime) ; Blinois, Decatur (May), 

 Putnam County (July). 



In his description Dyar states that it is based upon 

 two males and one female from "Fort Lee, N. J., May 

 1896 (H. G. Dyar)" and one female from "East River, 

 Conn., Aug. 20, 1906 (Chas. R. Ely)." The female 

 from East River is in the National Collection but there 

 are no specimens from Fort Lee and none dated 1896. 

 The specimen (a male in good condition) bearing Dyar's 

 type label is one reared by him at Washington, D. C, 

 Jime 19, 1900. This probably was overlooked by him 

 at the time he prepared his description and not identified 

 or labeled untU later. It is unquestionably stigmella 

 but, in the light of his published declaration, cannot be 

 accepted as the type. 



The species is quite distinct and easily identified — 

 especially the males by their contrasting yeUow-white 

 heads against their dark thoraces. The sex-scaling on 

 underside of the male and the contrasting dark basal 

 patch of forewing distinguish it from everything else 



except aurorella Ely. The sex-scaling consists of a nar- 

 row black streak on forewing extending for about one- 

 fourth of costa from base, a strongly contrasted and 

 rather broad black midcostal streak on hind wing and 

 some black scahng on the extreme base of the veins of 

 cell of the hind wing. The underside of hind wing is 

 otherwise a uniform ocherous white. 



The hfe history is also characteristic. In early spring 

 (Mar.) the young overwintering larva is found within 

 the unopened leaf-bud, its presence indicated by a 

 small roimd frass Ud over the entrance hole. For a 

 short time the larva feed within the bud, chiefly upon 

 the bud sheath. When it opens the young leaves are 

 partially eaten and then the larva enters the new shoot. 

 Thereafter the entire feeding life and pupal period is 

 spent within the new growth. The larva makes a 

 larval case during this generation. The life history of 

 later summer generations is not known. 



18. Acrobasis auroreUa Ely 

 FlQUEE 149 



Acrobasis aurorella Ely, Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, vol. 12, 

 p. 67, 1910.— Forbes, CorneU Mem. 68, p. 616, 1923.— 

 McDunnough, Check list, No. 6090, 1939. 



Close to and similar to stigmella but differing markedly 

 in the ground color of the forewing. The sex-scaling is 

 the same. The upper surface of the head on the male 

 is also ocherous white but much duller and less con- 

 trasted against the dark gray thorax. Forewing with 

 basal area blackish gray sharply contrasted against re- 

 mainder of wing; median and outer areas of wing pale 

 pinkish ocherous or pale gray with a pinkish overcast; 

 subterminal line extremely faint; discal dots distinct 

 but not strongly contrasted. Hind wings as in stigmella. 

 Alar expanse, 19-22 mm. 



Type locality: Washington, D. C. (type in USNM). 



Food plant: Unknown. 



Distribution: Connecticut, East River (Aug.); New 

 York, Ilion (Aug.); New Jersey, Montclair (June); 

 Pennsylvania, New Brighton (Sept.); District of Colum- 

 bia, Washington (June). Also two specimens from the 

 Fernald Collection, without locality and labeled "demo- 

 tella Grt." 



19. Acrobasis peplifera Dyar 

 FiGTJBE 150 



Acrobasis peplifera Dyar, Ins. Insc. Menstr., vol. 13, p. 13, 

 1925.— McDunnough, Check list. No. 6106, 1939 



Forewing dark gray with a vinous tint; basal area a 

 dark wine red ; scale ridge black, followed by a red line, 

 then by a whitish line or triangle on inner margin, 

 shading into black towards costa; discal dots obscured 

 in the dark ground color, more or less confluent. Hind 

 wings pale smoky fuscous, darker in the female than 

 male; veins faintly outlined by dark scaling. Alar ex- 

 panse, 13-17 mm. 



The male sex-scaUng on underside is as follows: On 

 forewing a rather wide black stripe on basal fifth of 

 costa ; on hind wing a black streak from base along top 

 of cell, widening out to costa at its middle and putting 



