GROUP VARIATA 



This group contains two species — variata (with synonym varix 

 and aberration orbis) and scopeops. 



It is readily distinguished from all other groups in the genus 

 by its usually peculiar motted appearance produced by a gray-blue- 

 white underlay of smaller scales, combined with the transverse mark- 

 ings being normally scaled with the same color, when visible. 



Variata is at once distinguishable by its large size and broad 

 wings. In this it resembles alternata. In character of maculation 

 it somewhat resembles barnesi, while in the bluntness of its pri- 

 maries it resembles trigona. 



Scopeops approaches variata in maculation, but its wings are 

 narrower, and it is a smaller insect. An aberrantly small variata 

 may be equal in wing expanse to a large scopeops, but if so its 

 wings are broader. They appear to be genetalically distinct. 



SuPERFiciAi, Key to the Variata Group 

 I. — Size small to moderate, 32 to 36"'"'. Orbicular and reni- 

 form usually outlined clearlj' by a fine sharp line, mark- 

 ings bright, (wings appearing narrow) (N. Calif, to B. C. 



only) scopeops 



II. — Size moderate to large, usually large, 36 to 42""". Orbic- 

 ular and reniform outlined with a suffused line, sometimes 

 fading into the ground color, (wings appearing broad) 



(N. Mex. to B. C.)--- variata 



The blue underlay not showing; appearing concolorously 

 drab or pale olive fuscous ab. orbis 



Genitalic Key to the Variata Group 

 I. — Edge of sacculus a smooth even curve; ampulla of clasper 

 not hidden, arising completely outside of the sacculus on 

 the valve; chitenous retractile plate of penis spined on 



side - scopeops 



II. — Edge of sacculus not so, — indented; ampulla of clasper 

 with base hidden ; chitenous retractile plate of penis 



spined at end only variata 



N. B. — The student is urged to note the fact that the genitalia 

 in this group are variable and that the author has examined only 

 two slides of scopeops — the only two males in the Barnes Collec- 

 tion. 



LAMPRA VARIATA, Grt. 



1876. Grt, Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci., Ill, 83, pi. 4, f. 12, Agrotis. 



1882. Grt., New List, p. 24, Agrotis. 



1883. Grt., Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, XXI, 155, Agrotis. 



1889. Butl., Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 382=phyllophora (Amatlies). 



1890. Sm., Bull. U. S. N. M., XXXVIII, 22, Rhynchagrotis. 

 1893. Sm., Bull. U. S. N. M., XLIV, 53, Rhynchagrotis. 



1895. Grt., Abb. Nat. Ver., Bremen, XIV, 58, Agrotis (Lampra). 



1903. Hamp., Cat. Lep. Pbal. B. M., IV, 637, pi. LXXVII, f. 11, Triphaena. 



1908. Sm., Can. Ent., XL, 225, Rhynchagrotis. 



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