56 



seen by the writer, and the color does not appear to have been desig- 

 nated. 



The larva or caterpiUar is quite remarkable because of its semi- 

 transparencY. Its surface is without hair and the general color is 

 moderately pale green, with dark-orange subtriangular head, which 

 is marked by a frontal subtriangular space. The thoracic segments 

 are greenish testaceous and more or less tinged with orange, at least 

 in preserved specimens. The remainder of the body is nearly trans- 

 parent, presenting a view of the vascular and nervous system beneath 

 the skin, as illustrated in figure 18, l. The length of the larva, when 

 full grown, is about IJ inches. 



The jyupa is nearly as striking as is the larva. It is of similar pale 

 greenish color and of the a23pearance shown in figure 18, <?, d. The 

 head is prolonged into a curved process, and the tongue extends in a 

 nearly straight line considerably beyond the prolonged anal tubercle. 

 Without the projections it is nearly as long as the larva. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Scudder states that the principal range of this species is from Cen- 

 tral America to the northern parts of the South American Continent, 

 although it inhabits, also, the extreme Southern States of our Union. 

 So far as can be learned it is still known onh^ from the Gulf States, 

 South Carolina, and Porto Rico in our domains. It also inhabits 

 Cuba and Jamaica, however, and in South America occurs as far 

 south as Argentina, where it was years ago reported to be common 

 by Burmeister. 



ACCOUXTS OF INJURY. 



In the records of the Bureau of Entomology we have accounts of 

 injuries and of other observations on this species, as follows: June 7, 

 1880, we received from Dr. J. H. Mellichamp. Bluffton, S. C, a report 

 that the larva had utterly destroyed some luxuriant plants of Canna 

 -fiaccida in his garden. August 9, 1887, we received from Mr. A. L. 

 Townsend, Ba}^ Ridge, Long Island, report that the species did much 

 damage to French cannas and Caladbim escuJentum. In our rearing 

 cages the butterflies hatched June 12 and August 26. 



The caterpillars appear to affect only plants of the genus Canna, 

 when they are obtainable, and sometimes they are so abundant as to 

 do much damage, at times utterly destroying luxuriant plants. Dr. 

 H. G. Dyar mentions a case where the larvae were eating the leaves of 

 canna planted in the grounds of a hotel at Miami, Fla., considerably 

 injuring the appearance of the plants. 



