48 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The Noctuidse comprise that large family of Lepidoptera known as the " Owl-let " 

 moths, or night-flyers. Asa rule, the members of this family feed by night and r^at 

 during the daytime. Some of the larvae of these moths, commonly known as cut-w rms, 

 are amongst the most destructive of our caterpillars. The ravages which they have been 

 recorded as making, resulting in the losses of certain agricultural products. s ave been 

 enormous. Around Toronto, as far as I know, their devastations have not amounted to 

 very much, comparatively speaking. In the regions most infested with these pests, the 

 loss to agriculture is tremendous, but the ravages thus caused have been reported so fully 

 in Government publications that it is not necessary for me to say anything further about 

 their destructive propensities. It might not be out of place, however, to mention that 

 on account of these larvse being night feeders, all of their devastations are perpetrated 

 after dark, in the daytime the caterpillars hiding under crevices, stones or any other 

 article under which they can escape notice. 



To the collector of these moths there are various novel ways of procuring specimens. 

 The two most indulged in, in Toronto, are taking advantage of the electric lights, especi- 

 ally in the outer districts, and by the still better way of " sugaring " the trees. In the 

 early part of the season, say until towards the last week in June, the Noctuids that are 

 then flying seemingly prefer the electric lights to the " sugar " — such is my experience. 

 By the first of July they start to come to the " sugar," and from then until the end of 

 August, and even beginning of September, lots of good work can be accomplished. Some 

 Noctuids which are often taken at " light " are seldom captured at " sugar," while on the 



Fig. 18. 



other hand specimens like the catocala are generally taken at " sugar." Relicta (Fig. 18) 

 is about the only catocala which I have noticed around the lights to any extent. Daring 

 the end of August of last season quite a number of Relictas were to be seen at "light," 

 while I have, as yet, only met with one specimen at " sugar." Collecting with the aid of 

 " sugar " is much the better way, not only as regards the number of specimens taken, but 

 also in view of the variety of Noctuids secured. The season of 1897 was an ideal one for 

 " sugaring " purposes in Toronto. One evening as many as 26 specimens of catocalae 

 were taken by Mr McDannough and myself while out together, besides a large number 

 of smaller interesting Noctuids. 



It is safe to say that among the Noctuids we find some of our most beautiful moths, 

 hut on the other hand some of them are most inconspicuous in color, being of a»dull gray, 

 brown, or black, or these colors combined. 



In North America, according to Prof. J. B. Smith's List of Lepidoptera of Boreal 

 America, there are recorded no less than 1841 distinct species of this great family of 

 Noctuidae, and since the compilation of this list there have been several new species 

 described On my list I have marked off about 160 different species, which I have taken 

 at Toronto, besides quite a number of unnamed species. Probably there occur several 

 hundred more representatives. 



Among the various genera there are to be found some very interesting species. The 

 first thing I have marked of on my list is Raphia frater. Thu moth is of uncommon 

 occurrence, the specimens I have being taken at light. 



