The following subgenera are suggested based on antenna) char- 

 acters of the males. 



Abagrotis, Sm., Bull., U. S. N. M., XXXVIII, 9, 49, 1890; 

 having antennae serrate and fasciculate with type erratica, Sm. 



Lampra, Hbn., Verz., 221, 1822; having simple antennae, with 

 cilia varying in length and sparcity. It is this subgenus which 

 will include all of the benus Rhynchagrotis of Smith ; with the 

 exception of chardinyi, Bdv., gilvipennis, Grt., himarginalis, Grt. 

 and alcandola, Sm. Ks compared with Triphaena, Hamp. nee. Gn., 

 it includes all species with the exception of chardinyi, gilvipennis, 

 and species herein listed under the subgenus Abagrotis. 



Because of the scattering of original descriptions throughout 

 various, almost unobtainable works, the author has seen fit to re- 

 publish them, punctuation perfect. 



Under each species will be found a bibliography of that species. 

 In this the author has, in the main, followed Smith, Bull. 44, U. S. 

 N. M., and various later writers. With species as closely resembl- 

 ing each other as they do in this genus, it is impossible to guar- 

 antee the correctness of the determinations of the various authors. 

 Where mistakes are known they will be corrected and noted under 

 the various species in the text. 



Key to Subgenera 



I.— Antennae of $ serrated __ ABAGROTIS 



TI. — Antennae of $ simple, ciliated _ LAMPRA 



Unfortunately, these subgenera are based purelj'' on antennal 

 characters of the males, but the following notes may help to sepa- 

 rate the females to the proper subgenus. 



Abagrotis — collar always concolorous with the thorax in ornata, 

 erj-atica, and alcandola. Markings usually clean cut in appearance 

 in ornata and erratica. A vertical undivided longitudinal ridge on 

 collar and prothorax of at least ornata, erratica, and alcandola; and 

 absent or divided in all species of Lampra. The onlj' confusion 

 that can arise with the remaining species of Abagrotis (himargi- 

 nalis) is in its superficial appearance to L. vittifrons. It can be 

 readily distinguished by its costal margin being buff instead of 

 the usual creamy white of vittifrons; besides it is normally larger 

 in size ; and with the markings more obscure. Its secondaries have 

 a tendency to be fuscovis ; whereas most of the vittifrons have the 

 secondaries very largely pearly white with merely the veins fuscous 

 and a few fuscous scales near the margins. Another character that 

 may hold good or may not is that vittifrons has a collar of the 

 same general color as the costal margin of the primaries, whereas 

 in himarginalis the collar is deeper in color than the costal margin, 

 and in one specimen examined has considerable gray scaling. It 

 may be that this insect has a thoracic crest similar to the other 

 species of the subgenus, but only three specimens were available and 

 all of these somewhat rubbed. One specimen from the Neumoegen 

 Collection showed traces of a distinct crest. 



75 



