REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 



209 



and white, and the skin is minutely spotted with the same color. Prof. 

 Slingerland (see citation) states that in the larvae of X. grotei both 

 edges of the stigmatal stripe are well defined, while in those of X. anten- 

 nata the upper edge is much broken or indented. He finds that the 

 sub-dorsal stripe is more continuous in the latter, it being composed 

 of three or four irregular spots on each segment in X. grotei. He sepa- 

 rates the larvae of X. laticinerea from those of X. antentiata by the posi- 

 tion of the stigmatal stripe, which is just above the spiracles, except the 

 one at each extremity, in the former species, while in the latter it is 

 mostly below the spiracles. 



..y 



Fig. 12 XYLiN'A ANTENNATA (original). 



The moth (fig. 12) is ashy gray with indistinct, rather variable markings. 

 Sometimes it resembles X. laticinerea so closely that only an authority 

 on the family can separate the species. So close is the resemblance 

 between these forms, that at first the larvae depredating on the maples 

 were referred by Or Dyar to X. grotei and X. laticinerea, the determina- 

 tion being based on examples named by I)r Smith some years ago. The 

 subsequent studies of the latter have somewhat modified his views as to 

 the limitation of these species, and have led to a renaming of those at 

 the U. S. National Museum. These forms aie undoubtedly very close to 

 each other, though Prof Slingerland has found differences in the male 

 genitalia of X. antennata and X. grotei. 



Definition of the species. In opposition to this view, Dr Riley 

 regarded the above-named forms as but varieties of the species under 

 discussion. 



Writing of this family in 187 1, he states that great variability is char- 

 acteiibtic of these moths, that only the more strikingly marked should be 

 described, and adds that no doubt many of the so-called species will 

 turn out to be but varieties. In a communication from Prof. G. H. 

 Hudson of the State normal school at Plattsburg, N. Y., he writes: 

 'After some years of trial and with over 800 specimens for comparison, 

 I have come to the conclusion that Xylina antennata, X. laticinerea and 



