THYRIS. 141 



pands from seven and a half to nine lines. Larva lives in the 



pith of the currant bush. This destructive insect is not a native, 



but has been introduced from Europe with the cultivated currant 



bush. 



Harris. 



T. scitula Harris. 



Purple-black. Wings transparent, with the margins golden yel- 

 low; the first pair with a narrow purple-brown band beyond the 

 middle and a broad one at the tip ornamented with golden yellow 

 lines; fringes blackish; front and orbits covered with silvery white 

 hairs; antenna) black; palpi, collar, upper edges of the shoulder- 

 covers, a narrow band at the base of the abdomen, a dorsal spot 

 behind it, a broad band around the middle, the lateral edges of the 

 fan-shaped tail, anterior coxae, sides of the breast, tibiae and tarsi, 

 except at the joints, with the spurs golden-yellow. Expands about 

 eight lines. This beautiful little species is easily distinguished by 

 the prevalence of yellow on the under side of the body and legs. 



Harris. 



T. pyri Harris. 



Purple-black. Wings transparent, with the margins, a narrow 

 band beyond the middle of the first pair, and a broad one at tip, 

 purple-black, the latter streaked with brassy yellow ; antennae black- 

 ish; palpi beneath, collar, edges of the shoulder-covers, a broad 

 band across the middle of the abdomen, a narrow one before it, 

 an indistinct transverse line at base, the posterior half of the ab- 

 domen beneath, the sides of the breast, anterior coxae, legs except 

 the joints of the tibiae, and the lateral edges of the wedge-shaped 

 tail golden yellow. Expands six lines and a half. Larva lives 

 under the bark of the pear-tree. For some further particulars 

 respecting this species, see my communication in the New England 

 Farmer, Yol. IX, p. 2, 1830. 



Harris. 



THYRIS Illiger. 



Wings broad, subtriangular, more or less angulated and indented, 

 opaque, with small semi-transparent spots. Antenna fusiform, but 

 slender, and only slightly thickened in the middle ; arcuated and 

 simple in both sexes. Tongue moderate. Body short and thick ; 

 Abdomen conical and tufted at the end. 



Harris. 



