[33] 



Report of the State Entomologist. 



175 



many is he, who, as he scans these long lists of uncalled-for, short- 

 lived, often still-born genera, can exultingly say : " I thank God that 

 I baptized none of you !" 



A Common Insect. 



Darapsa Myron (as we prefer to call it for the present) has a dis- 

 tribution over a large portion of the United States, being found in all 

 the region east of the Mississippi river, in some of the States west 

 thereof, and in Canada. The caterpillar occurs oftener on the grape 

 than any other of the Sphinges having the same food-plant, viz., 

 Thyreus Abbotii Swainson, Deilephila lineata (Fabr.), D. chamcenerii 

 Harris, Philampelus Pandorus (Hiibner), and P. achemon (Drury). It 

 is made the more conspicuous by the parasitization to which it is 

 peculiarly liable, and when in this condition its larval existence is 

 considerably prolonged — not maturing and pupating as it otherwise 

 would.* For these reasons it frequently comes under the observation 

 of the grape-grower, exciting his curiosity, and causing it to be sent 

 to the entomologist for information regarding it. The following 

 notice will meet some of t>hese inquiries. 



The insect may be readily identified from the description and figures 

 herewith presented. 



Description of the Caterpillar. 



Young Larva. — After its first molting it measures one-half inch in 

 length. It is of a light green color, with the usual oblique lateral 

 bands of the Sphingidse running into a yellow subdorsal line. Along 

 the body dorsally is a series of triangular yellow spots, which, on the 

 sixth and seventh segments, are centered with orange. The caudal 

 horn is green, straight, and two-tenths of an inch long ; it continues 

 to be straight through following moltings until after the last — the 

 fourth molt, when it assumes the usual curved form. 



Mature Larva. — The head is small, oval, pale green, with numerous 

 yellow granules and four yellow perpendicular lines. The body 

 is swollen on the third and fourth segments, tapering rapidly thence 

 to the head. Its color is yellowish-green, speckled with numerous 

 pale yellow dots. The seven oblique lateral bands cross the 



* " It is one of those remarkable and not easily explained facts which often confront 

 the student of Nature, that, while one of these hog-caterpillars in its normal and healthy 

 condition may be starved to death in two or three days, another, that is writhing with 

 its body full of parasites, will live without food for as many weeks. Indeed, I have 

 known one to rest three weeks without food in a semi-paralyzed condition, and, after 

 the parasitic flies, had all escaped from their cocoons, it would raise itself and make a 

 desperate effort to regain its strength by nibbling at a leaf which was offered to it." 

 (Riley.) 



