THE 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
VOL. XXI. JUNE, 1887. No. 6, 
ARAUJIA ALBENS AS A MOTH-TRAP. 
BY ROBERT E C STEARNS.” 
de plant which I have to notice because of its peculiarity as 
an insect-trap, rather than on account of its botanical aspect 
or relations, is referred by botanists to the order Asclepiadacez. 
This order includes the so-called Milk-Weeds, as well as a great 
number of other curious, interesting, and economically important 
forms. 
The species under consideration—formerly Physianthus, now 
Araujia albens—is a native of Buenos Ayres; it has been pretty 
widely distributed. Its rapid growth, hardy habit, and clean, 
shining leaves have made it a favorite for ornamental purposes 
where an attractive, quickly-spreading vine is desired. It has 
been introduced into this country, to the East and North, in 
the vicinity of Boston, in Massachusetts, and as far west as the 
neighborhood of San Francisco, in California. It appears to 
thrive equally well in these widely remote regions. 
In November, 1880, I noticed, one day, three or four moths 
fluttering in rather a peculiar way upon or around the blossoms 
of a large Araujia vine that covered one side of the porch of my 
house, in Berkeley, California. I found, upon closer examina- 
tion, that they were fastened to the flowers, and, upon still more 
careful scrutiny, that the proboscis was, in each case, submerged 
in the flower, and the end of it hidden in the interior of the blos- 
som. Besides the living moths, there were several dead ones 
t Read before the Biological Society, Washington, D. C., February 19, 1887. 
34 
