obliteralis, and the larger, irregular reddish spots on 

 the hind wings are characteristic. The color varies 

 almost with individuals, particularly the white mark- 

 ings, but the general appearance is much the same. 

 Specimens from Texas and Hawaii seem to be the 

 same as eastern obliteralis and are not occidentalis. 



Distribution. — California and Arizona. California 

 records include the following counties: Alameda, 

 Butte, Colusa, Riverside, San Diego, Stanislaus, 

 and Yolo. It will undoubtedly have a wider distribution 

 when extensive collections are made. 



Biology. — Larvae and pupae of this species were 

 first found July 9, 1954, feeding on Echinodorus cor- 

 difolius growing in a permanent pond at Biggs, Butte 

 County. The life history seems similar to S. obliteralis 

 (Walker) as worked out by Williams (1944) and other 

 investigators. The larvae of occidentalis are gill-less 

 and feed on a number of aquatic plants growing in 

 permanent ponds and in rice fields. Hosts recorded 

 are: hysop (Bacopa rotundi folia), potamogeton (Pota- 

 mogeton gramineus), arrowhead (Sagittaria sp.), 

 Echinodorus cordifolius, Jussiaea californica, and 

 young cattail (Typha californica). 



The eggs are disclike, ovate in outline, dirty-white 

 in color, and are laid singly or slightly overlapping on 

 the undersurfaces of aquatic plants near the edges of 

 the leaves. In size they vary from 0.48 to 0.53 mm. 

 wide and 0.56 to 0.71 mm. long, and the surface is 

 roughened. Eggs are laid in groups of from ten to 

 fifty-seven. Larvae upon hatching cut small circular 

 areas out of the leaves and live under single pieces 

 of leaves attached to the undersides of the leaves by 

 a silken web. As the larvae enlarge they cut larger 

 pieces of leaf, forming when they are mature an oblong 

 case made of two pieces of leaf fastened together 

 with silk. The young larvae are bathed in water and 

 apparently breathe cutaneously, whereas it appears 

 that the larger larvae inside the cases are exposed to 

 air, living in a more or less waterproof case from 

 which they reach to feed on plants. The larvae, when 

 ready to pupate, make an inner silken cocoon, fasten- 

 ing the case to the leaves or petioles, sometimes 

 more or less exposed to air and at other times com- 

 pletely submerged. 



The small larvae are white, about 1 mm. long and 

 translucent, later turning to a pale green, although 

 the dorsal vessel may show as a darker, dorsal line. 

 The mature larva is robust, with small head and 

 reduced prolegs, attaining a length of about 16 mm. 

 The setae are inconspicuous, and pale-colored. The 

 head and prothoracic shield are often a pale brown in 

 color, glossy, and more or less translucent. The 

 crockets are arranged in a biordinal mesoseries. The 

 spiracles are small, but distinct, and dark-ringed. 

 The pupa is pale brown, 9-16 mm. long by 3-6 mm. 

 wide at the greatest point. Abdominal segments two, 

 three, and four, above, have large, almost stalked 

 spiracles. 



There was evidence of at least two and possibly 

 three generations a year of this moth. In rice fields 

 at Biggs, the common host was hysop which in one 

 instance was almost completely destroyed by the 

 larvae of this moth. As rice grows, this weed seems 



283 

 Lange: Lepidoptera 



to disappear naturally and the moth maintains itself 

 mostly on Echinodorus growing in permanent ponds. 

 On August 5, 1954, moths wore collected fai rl\ com- 

 monly from five to six P.M. when they could be flushed 

 from rice plants and collected when they alighted two 

 to four inches above the, water on rice stems in an 

 area where hysop was being attacked by the larvae. 

 Some adults were collected resting on algae on the 

 surface of the water, and adults wore also collected 

 during the day resting on the floating loaves of other 

 plants at Biggs and Maxwell. 



No parasites were detected during the period this 

 moth was under observation. 



Parargyractis schaefferalis (Dyar) 



(Figs. ll:4e; ll:5e; 11:6a) 



Elophila schaefferalis Dyar, 1906:95. 

 Parargyractis schaefferalis, Lange 1956. 



A dark gray species with small, marginal dark spots 

 on outer margin of hind wings. 



Male. — Expanse 17-20 mm. Labial palpi short, brown, 

 with scattered, white scales. Maxillary palpi short, brown, 

 with apical white scales. Head, thorax, and abdomen 

 with scattered, brown and grayish-white scales. Vertex 

 of epicranium dome-shaped, projecting upward behind 

 antennae. Ocelli absent. Antennae ciliate, with tufts of 

 scales at segments. Fore wings with gray-brown scales 

 on a gray-white background; basal area dark gray; median 

 area lighter, in some specimens outlined with darker- 

 margined lighter, transverse fasciae; a subapical dark 

 streak, followed by a white, apical wedge-shaped mark; 

 cilia dark banded. Hind wings with indication of dark, 

 discal spot; in some specimens a median transverse 

 fascia, dark-outlined on outer side; a submarginal group 

 of 4 black spots, alternating with 4, marginal black spots, 

 located in an orange field, and separated outwardly with 

 metallic, silvery scales. 



Female. — Expanse 24-29 mm. As male except larger and 

 dark-margined fasciae more distinct; swimming hairs 

 present on tarsi of middle and hind legs. 



Male genitalia. — Valva narrowed at base, expanded 

 bladelike apically; uncus small, spatulate; gnathos short, 

 stout, not reaching end of uncus, set dorsally with small, 

 scattered teeth; vinculum well developed; aedoagus stout, 

 with three groups of apical teeth. 



Female genitalia. — "ase of ductus bursae large, cuplike, 

 set with numerous small spines; collar sclerotized; ductus 

 bursae with small surface spicules; bursa copulatrix 

 elongate, with a group of about 15 large, thornlike teeth 

 arranged spirally. 



Taxonomic position. — The genitalia of this species 

 indicate that it is closest to P. longipennis (Hamp- 

 son). The spiral arrangement of the signa in the fe- 

 male bursa suggests relationships with several other 

 Mexican species. 



Distribution. — California and Arizona. In California 

 it has a southern range in Inyo, Los Angeles, and 

 Riverside counties, where it is sparingly taken from 

 May through September. 



Biology. — Unknown. It is possible that larvae col- 

 lected in March at Surprise Canyon, Inyo County, 

 could be either this species or kearfottalis Dyar. 

 These larvae are characterized by a black head and 

 small, white gills. 



