150 The Queensland Naturalist. Vol. I. 
Boisd., and I was at first confirmed in this opinion when 
the moths to which they actually related were brought to 
my attention, for I had been led to associate with Bois- 
duvabs species Mauritia, a moth agreeing with Sir G. F. 
Hampson’s description of and “figure 140 — Spodopera 
mauritia male ” in his “ Moths (The Fauna of British 
India, II., p. 249, 1894), and amongst other characters 
in lacking “ the very large tufts of hair and scales from out- 
side ” of the fore-tibise in the male, and according with it 
in damaging members of the grass tribe : an insect occurring 
in India, and agreeing — according to Hampson — with this 
figure and description also, destroying growing rice there 
(''Indian Museum Notes,'' V., p. 48, 1900). 
The insect dealt with by Mr .Jarvis was labelled in all 
local collections Spodoptera acronytoides, Guen : but Dr. 
J. Turner — the Queensland authority on the Heterocera 
— pointed out to the writer, that in the British Museum 
moth collections, of which Hampson is keeper, this 
really bore the title of Boisduvals species now men- 
tioned. Hence in the Department of Agriculture 
cabinets it bears both names. Since the Club’s meet- 
ing, Vol. VIII. of the monumental “ Catalogue of 
the Lepidox:)tera Phalaenee ” has been received here, and 
its learned author (Sir G. F. Hampson) decided therein, 
(1) that our 8. acronytoides is really Spodoptera mauritia, 
Boisduval. the two names being synonymous (Op. cit., 
pp. 257. fig. 66) ; and (2) that the insect we have regarded 
as S. mauritia — misled in my case by his figure — is 8. 
exempta (Walker), or as he now terms it Laphygma exempta 
(Walker), Hampson, Accordingly the suggestion alluded 
to is untenable. 
Both insects have an almost co-extensive range in Aus- 
tralia, and are of wide distribution beyond its limits, often 
occuring associated in the same area. They are, in their 
caterpillar phases at least, evidently allied in their form, 
structure and habits. 
I can recall but fow instances of the early stages of 
Spodoptera mauritia being described, and its being placed 
amongst serious insect pests. Its life history has been 
recently worked out in Hawaii by 0. H. Swezey, who styles 
it '‘The Grass Army Worm” (c/. Bulk, 7 Div. Entom., 
H.S.P.S. Expt. Station, 1909, pp. 13-15, PI. II., figs. 7-11 — 
egg. egg-masses, caterpillars, moth). W. Van Deventer 
has also both figured and described the caterpillar and 
moth (“ De Dierlijke Vijanden van het Suikerriet,” 1906, 
p. 109, pi. 17, figs. 1 and 2). Both Swezey and the latter 
author deal with its very injurious relations with the sugar 
cane. 
Mr. Jarvis’ independent observations regarding the 
life-history of the insect under consideration confirm in an 
