224: 



IXJUEIOUS INSECTS 



THE ABBOT SPHIXX. 



{Thyreus Abbotii, Swainson.) 



This is another of the hirge Grape-feeding insects, oc- 

 curring on the cultivated and indigefious yines and on 

 the Virginia Creeper, and having, in the full grovm 

 larva state, a j^ohshed tubercle instead of a horn at the 

 tail. Its habitat is given by Dr. Clemens, as Xew York, 

 Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Ohio; but 

 though not so common as the Si^hinx Moths ah'eady 

 described, yet it is often met Trith both in Illinois and 



Fig. 141.— THE ABBOT sPHi]o: {Tliyreus AWotU, Swain.) 

 Larva and Motti. 



Missouri. The larva which is represented in the upj^er 

 part of figure 141 varies considerably in appearance. 

 Indeed, the grotmd-color seems to depend in a measure 

 on the sex, for Dr. Morris describes this larva as reddish- 

 brown ^Hth numerous patches of light-green, and express- 

 ly states that the female is of a uniform reddish-brown, 

 with an interrujited dark-brown dorsal line and trans- 

 verse strite lines. T\'e have reared two individuals which 



