4 BARNES AND McDUNNOUGH: CATOCALA 



A comparative study of the ova, larvae, male clasping organs, and tibise has convinced us that an excellent system of 

 grouping may be evolved, based upon these four features and calculated to show the true affinities of the species far better 

 than a system based on color alone. In the following pages we have attempted such an arrangement but it is of necessity 

 more or less tentative, as our knowledge of the ova and larvse of many species is still very deficient. 



With regard to the male genitalia, we have found the claspers of great value for general grouping purposes but less so 

 for specific separations. Apparently there is considerable local variation of these organs within each species and our 

 studies have not been extended sufficiently to enable us to grasp any one feature which could be used in separating allied 

 species. In this connection we would warn students from considering the figures of claspers herewith presented as any- 

 thing more than rather rough sketches. We have carefully compared these sketches with the slides and eliminated 

 many of the graver errors of the original drawings so that, for general purposes of grouping, they possess considerable 

 value but, for the minute detail necessary in distinguishing closely related species, they cannot be recommended. 



With the exception of two species, nubilis Hiibner and elonympha Hubner, which are distinctly non-catocaline in all 

 points, we have refrained from subdividing the genus. We believe, however, that sooner or later this must be done, as 

 even our own more or less superficial studies have convinced us of the divergent points of origin of several of the groups. 

 Such subdivision, however, may safely be left until the early stages of all the species are known; in this paper we have 

 confined ourselves to indicating at the head of each group any generic term which might, if necessary, be available. We 

 have further refrained from publishing a complete bibliography of each species; the more important revisions of our North 

 American species will be found listed under the generic heading at the commencement of the paper; under each specific 

 head we have given the original reference of the species as well as of each of its synonyms, varieties, forms, or aberrations, 

 together with any important reference concerning the identity of the species or relating to its early stages. In our brief 

 notes we have dealt with points of nomenclature, means of distinguishing closely related species, and geographical 

 distribution. 



In conclusion, we would express the hope that students and collectors interested in this group may make a special 

 effort to advance our knowledge of those species the early stages of which are unknown. We shall always be very glad to 

 give any assistance in our power in the shape of breeding hints or methods of obtaining ova and also to receive material 

 with which to carry on our own breeding experiments. 



Catocala Schrank 



Schrank, 1802, Fauna Boica, II, 2, p. 158. Grote, 1872, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc, IV, pp. 1-20. Hulst, 



1880, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, III, pp. 2-13; 1884, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, VII, pp. 14-56. 



Hampson, 1913, Cat. Lep. Ehal. Brit. Mus., XII, pp. 1-209. 



SECTION I 



Mormonia Hubneb, 1823, Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 276 (type, epione Drury). 



Catabapta Hulst, 1884, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc, VII, p. 49 (type, antiuympha Hubner). 



All tibise spined ; tarsi with a fourth irregular row of spines. 



Hulst (be. tit, p. 49) first made use, for the purpose of classification, of the fact that a considerable number of species 

 possess spined fore tibise; he created the genus Catabapta (type, antinympha Hubner, fixed by Hampson, 1913, be. tit., 

 p. 11) for this group and is followed in this by Hampson (he. tit, pp. 1142). Unfortunately, both authors hive over- 

 looked the fact that epione Hubner, the type of the genus Mormonia, also has spined fore tibise, though at times the spining 

 is considerably reduced, and Mormonia Hubner will therefore take precedence over Catabapta Hulst as used by Hulst and 

 Hampson. It may possibly be necessary, however, to still further subdivide the group and, in this latter case, Mormonia 

 will be used for the epbne group, which consists of but two species as far as we know, and Catabapta for the Myrica- 

 feeding section. 



A very constant feature of the whole section and one that has been overlooked by students up to the present but to 

 which our attention was directed by Dr. W. T. M. Forbes while on a recent visit, is the fact that all the tarsi besides the 

 normal three rows of ventral spines, have a distinct fourth row of similar spines, rather irregularly placed and considerably 

 more dorsal. Outside of the section this feature is only found in two species, viz., illecta Walker and aholibah Strecker. 



