100 



triangle with this and the spiracle. Spiracles black, with pale 

 centers, nine in number, the last larger than those preceding. 

 Anal shield black, bristly, the segment preceding with a ring of 

 shining piliferoiis spots, and two additional spots in front. These 

 last two segments darker than those preceding. Anal plate rugose; 

 cervical shield with a fine median longitudinal white line. 



Under surface a little lighter than the upper; first, second, 

 seventh, and eighth segments with large shining piliferous spaces 

 below, arranged in an irregular transverse row. Jointed legs dark 

 without, more or less blackened at base; prolegs thick and large, 

 their tips unicolorous, set with a fine shagreen of minute recurved 

 hooks in addition to the large central series. 



Imago. — A thick-bodied, heavily tufted, and woolly-looking moth 

 of a rather dark brownish gray color, with distinct purple gloss, 

 when fresh, on all the wings, the fore wings with lighter median 

 shades, and indistinct spot and five transverse lineations. The 

 following general description must be very liberally applied, as 

 the species is unusually variable in color. 



"Palpi luteous brown in front, dark brown externally. Thorax 

 dark brown, almost blackish. Fore wings dark brown, with an 

 obscure purplish hue; with luteous brown on the disc and in the 

 fold, interrupted by a blackish brown, nearly square, submedian 

 spot in the fold and a small one near its base of the same hue 

 (sometimes merely a few blackish brown scales), with an irregular 

 blackish brown spot on the end of the disc, and the costa and 

 apical portion of the wing dusted and dotted, sometimes striated, 

 with blackish brown. Hind wings dark brown, tinged with black- 

 ish. Exp. al. 12 lines."* 



Larvje answering to this description have been taken by us at 

 various places in Central Illinois from the 20th to the last of 

 October and from April 26 to June 3, the specimens taken at the 

 date first mentioned being already fairly well grown. Larv?e placed 

 in a breeding cage April 26, emerged before the middle of July. 

 The moth was very abundant at the electric light during the years 

 1887 and 1888, chiefly in the month of June, collections ranging 

 from the first of that month to the second of July. None were 

 taken at any other time. 



This larva constructs a silk-lined burrow in the earth, from a 

 few inches to two feet in depth, commonly terminating in a little 

 chamber, and opening above in a webbed mass of earth or rubbish 

 into which its silken lining is extended. This web worm is 

 commonest in meadows, but most easily detected in cultivated 

 lands tlie first year after grass. We have taken it from both corn 

 and wlieat following sod, and from gardens, hedge-rows, and the 

 like. 



"iToc. I'liil. Acud. Niit. Sci., 1H.V.), p. iilll. 



