464 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Memythrus asilipennis Boisd. 



A large, brownish, yellow-marked and yellow-banded clearwing moth, with a wing 



spread of 1^2 inches, bores as a larva in ash and alder. 



The ash tree suffers very much in Massachusetts from attacks of this 

 borer, according to Dr Harris. It has been recorded from New Hampshire 

 to Florida, westward to Minnesota and southward to Texas. The species 

 occurs in Buffalo in small numbers. It also attacks alder. 



The following account of the habits of this borer is based on observa- 

 tions by Mr W. L. Devereaux of Clyde N. Y. The species is very abundant 

 in that section, being more plentiful in some swamps than in others. It 

 runs its cylindric burrow from the tap root directly up the trunk, sometimes 

 to a height of three or more feet, before turning and cutting its way out. 

 This burrow is never in the center of the tree, but is generally nearer the 

 bark than the heart, and the upright or vertical portion of it is as perfectly 

 made as though cut by a carpenter with bit and brace. Mr Devereaux con- 

 siders the alder the favorite host plant of this species because ash trees in 

 swamps not containing alder are almost exempt from attack while no clump 

 of alder is without evidences of its work. 



Description. Male. Head blackish, palpi pale yellowish white beneath, 

 rufous above. Antennae rufous. Collar edged with dull orange brown. 

 Thorax brown, patagia rufous, hind portion with a yellow transverse line. 

 Abdomen dull brown black with a very narrow yellow ring at the posterior 

 edge of each segment above and below. Legs orange, femora black. Fore 

 wings transparent with narrow brown borders and discal mark which is 

 marked with rufous ; underside marked with orange brown on the opaque 

 portions of the wings. Hind wings transparent, with a very narrow brown 

 border; underside similar to the upper. 



Female. Like the male, but the forewings are opaque, deep brown, 

 violaceous, with an oblique reddish discal mark, and a triangular transparent 

 area above the hind angle. Abdomen like that of the male, but more 

 robust, with the second segment marked with red above. Antennae simple 



Expanse, male 30-38 mm; female, 32-44 mm. Beutenmuller 



