390 MISC. PUBLICATION 657, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
which are more or less thickened toward the tip instead of having the 
shaft taper regularly, as in the Phalaenidae. 
There is one species, the eight-spotted forester (Alypia octomacu- 
lata (¥.)), of considerable importance as a pest in the Northeastern 
States. The moth is velvety black and has a wing expanse of 1 to 114 
inches. The forewing has two large sulfur-yellow spots, the hind 
wing two white spots, and the thorax has sulfur-yellow spots on each 
side. The full- -orown larva is about 114 inches long. The head and 
cervical shield are orange dotted with black, the body ground color is 
white, and each segment is marked with eight black transverse lines 
and a band of orange. The orange is most conspicuous on segments 4 
and 11, and all the bands are marked by black, conical, elevated spots. 
This species is found from New England westerly and southerly to 
South Dakota, Colorado, and Texas. Its food plants include grape. 
Virginia creeper, and Boston ivy. There may be two eenerations or 
only a partial second gener ation each year. The moths emerge from 
May to July, and from July to August. Occasionally pupae remain 
in a dormant state through 1 year or more. The larvae are found from 
June to September, and ‘sometimes they cause serious defoliation, par- 
ticularly of vines used for ornamental purposes. 
Famiry PHALAENIDAE (NOCTUIDAE) 
The Noctuid or Owlet Moths 
The noctuids make up the largest of all the families of Lepidoptera 
in North America, This group has been divided into many sub- 
families and these, in turn, into many genera. Nearly 2.700 species 
are known to exist north of Mexico. The nocturnal habits of the 
moths and the fact that in the darkness their eyes often shine brightly, 
have suggested the names noctuids and owlet moths. There is con- 
siderable variation in form, size, and coloring; the majority, however, 
are medium in size and dull colored.. In general, the thorax and body 
of the moths are stout, the forewings strong, with the outer margin 
shorter than the inner margin, and. when at rest the wings are folded 
upon the abdomen so that the insects are tr langular in outline. The 
antennae of most species are threadlike, fringed with hairs or brush- 
like, or in the males sometimes pectinate. 
Taxonomists have found it very difficult to classify properly the 
species of this family. In some genera it is often necessary to pee 
the genital structures to definitely determine the species. The lary: 
of most species are foliage feeders, but some are borers, and sie 
enaw into fruits. The majority of the larvae are naked, but some are 
distinctly hairy. They are provided with five pairs of prolegs. In 
most species the larvae are dull colored, but some are brightly mar rked. 
Space does not permit a discussion of each genus-and* of all the 
species common in the eastern part of the United States. There are 
many publications in which the authors have given excellent descrip- 
tions of the stages of one or more species, together with data on the life 
history, food plants, and the distribution. Therefore, to conserve 
space here, only a few representatives are discussed in detail and others 
are listed with one or more references. 
In the genus Catocala many of the moths are rather large, some 
having a wing expanse of over 3 inches. The forewings usually are 
