Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States 579 



cms; with from two to four fine irregular parallel black lines, the outermost when 

 present, parallel to outer margin. 14-18 mm. 



The typical form, from Florida, is much darker. 



The caterpillar is unknown. The moth is near to the European N. stratiotata, 

 which eats submerged plants and has one more filament in the posterior sub- 

 dorsal gills, than in the infrastigmatals. 



Massachusetts to Florida. 



51. ELOPHILA Hiibner : Tentamen 



(Cataclysta Hiibner, Chrysendeton Grote, Anydraula Meyrick) 



Labial palpi about as in Nymphula; maxillaries more slender, tapering to a 

 point (fig. 349); antennse annulated; ocellus obscure or absent. Fore wing (fig. 

 347) subfalcate, with oblique sinuous outer margin; R 2 always stalked in the 

 American species (free in group Anydraula). Hind wing with Sc and R fused 

 halfway to apex; M 2 free and normal or obsolete (not fused with M 3 , as the 

 position of the spots shows). Hind wing always with a marginal chain of 

 metallic and black spots, from apex to Cu 2 in our species. Caterpillar typically 

 an air breather; in an ovate case of Lemna leaves; feeding on Lemna; cylindrical 

 and moniliform; with head yellow, paler than the grayish body; with spiracles 

 functional, and those of third to fifth segments of abdomen enlarged. Larva of 

 E. fulicalis under a silk web, on the surface of stones in swift-flowing brooks; 

 feeding on the diatoms and other microscopic forms, growing in the neighborhood 

 of its web or caught in it; with simple tracheal gills, and breathing water. 

 Pupa in E. fulicalis in the web, which is strengthened, and whose openings are 

 arranged to catch the air bubbles carried down by the water. 



Key to the species 



1. Hind wings with one or two black lines beyond cell 3. oifascialis. 



1. Hind wings with a black-dusted area beyond cell, and no lines. 



2. Fore wing with a crescentic submarginal spot, not reaching apex, and two 



or three rounded spots 2. medicinalis. 



2. Fore wing with a submarginal streak broadening toward costa, without con- 

 trasting rounded spots. 

 3. Black spots of the terminal series on hind wing opposite each other in 



pairs, between veins 1. magnificalis. 



3. Black spots alternating, the inner series on the veins 4. fulicalis. 



1. M 2 preserved; larva air-breathing; on Lemna (Elophila). 



1. E. magnificalis Hiibner. Fore wing silver white, with light gray -brown lines; 

 costal region shaded with gray; with a waved diffuse antemedial band and irregu- 

 lar postmedial lines, leaving a rounded or quadrate white area on middle of inner 

 margin; three outer gray streaks, converging to a gray patch at anal angle. 

 Hind wing with a gray antemedial shade and bar across cell; postmedial region 

 broadly dusted with black-tipped scales; five marginal ocellate spots between 

 veins, enclosed with yellow, and with a gray marginal streak below the last 

 one. 18-23 mm. (lamialis Walker, helopialis Clemens.) 



July. 



Quebec to Pennsylvania. "New York" (Grote). 



2. E. medicinalis Grote. Brownish gray; a large obliquely oval antemedial patch, 

 resting on inner margin; a more rounded oval median patch, its apex resting on 

 inner margin, frequently with a small white streak beyond it on inner margin; a 

 white postmedial streak from costa at two-thirds, almost to anal angle; and a 

 crescentic submarginal white streak, narrowing more or less to costa, and usually 



