198 Forty-second Report on the State Museum. [56J 



I have no recollection of having felt the sting of either this species 

 or Dryocampa rubicunda. With the other Anisotas I am not familiar, 

 they being rare in the State of New York. 



Natural Enemies. 



As would seem to be indicated by the remarkable number in which 

 this insect often occurs, its known enemies are but few. Its formid- 

 able spines doubtless serve to protect it from destruction by insectivor- 

 ous birds, although Professor A. J. Cook names two species that are 

 known to eat it, viz., the robin and the blue jay [Merula migratoria and 

 Cyanocitta cristatd]. (American Naturalist, viii., 1874, p. 368.) 



Of insect parasites, I only find recorded, Limneria fugitiva Say — a 

 common parasite of the Bombycidw. In its parasitism of the young 

 larva of senatoria, in making its cocoon it uses the c body-wall of its 

 host, which it eats through and fastens to a twig of the tree on 

 which the larvae are feeding (Atkinson). From some of the parasit-, 

 ized larvae, Professor Atkinson had obtained examples of a species of 

 Hemiteles, but he could not determine whether it was a primary para- 

 site on A. senatoria or a secondary one on Limneria fugitiva. 



Another ichneumon parasite, reared from the caterpillar, is in my 

 collection, undetermined, but unfortunately can not be found at the 

 present for identification. 



Description of the Moth. 



The female has the thorax, abdomen, and wings of a bright ochreous- 

 yellow color. Its front wings are freckled with blackish dots; a large 

 white spot rests on the lower part of the cross-vein of the cell near 

 the upper middle of the wing; and a faint purplish stripe runs, 

 slightly waved, from just before the apex to the outer third of the inner 

 margin. The hind wings are much smaller, angulated apically, a 

 brighter ochreous toward their hind margin, and a straight purplish 

 band traversing them behind their middle. Its antennae are short 

 and simple. Expanse of wings about two and one-half inches. 



The male is much smaller in size, being about one inch and a half 

 in spread. It is of a darker color; its front wings are triangular, 

 feebly dotted with black, the white spot quite distinct, the purple 

 traversing line inconspicuous especially toward its middle, where the 

 wing is somewhat translucent. The hind wings are rhomboidal, with 

 the purple line only indicated. The antennae are broadly pectinated 

 for more than one-half their length. 



Summary of Life-history. 

 The moth may appear abroad in the State of New York for ovipo- 

 sition as early as the second week in June. On June sixteenth I have 

 seen examples in coitu and females depositing their eggs. 



