498 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
Moih. — Yove wings violet- bro WD, with lilac reflections, and shaded with reddish 
yellow, principally on the Babmargina] space, which ia dearer in front, and trav- 
<i 1»\ a fine line parallel to the angnlated line: the median .space deeper in color; 
the reniform Bpo1 distinct, oblong, of a clear yellow, traversed by a clear brown 
shade; orbicular spot concolorous, quite large, open at the two ends. Base of the 
wing varied with .sp ( .t-> and streaks. Submarginal line fine, wavy, forming a vague 
M in its middle, and shaded with hlaek in front. Hind wings yellowish, with the 
veins or cellular lunnle and the border broadly black, and containing a yellowish 
sinuous line. (Guen.). 
The four following species of Apatela occurred on the white birch 
at Providence duriug the last week of September and beginning of 
October. 
42. Apatela sp. 
Larva. — Head large and black, rounded as usual. Body cylindrical, of even thick- 
ness throughout, densely covered above with short, evenly cropped, Scotch snuff- 
yellow-brown hairs, concealing the segments, and rising into a very slight mediau 
ridge. The hairs on the prothorax are in front white, especially the long ones, while 
four loug white hairs arise from the second (meso) segment, and there are six to eight 
long erect white hairs arising from the back at the end of the body. On the third 
and sixth segments behind the head is a median short erect black spike of hairs, one- 
third as long as the body is thick ; and at the end of the body is a double spike. On 
the sides of the body the hairs are seen to radiate from mammillae, and the row of 
white spiracles is conspicuous. The skin is livid blue-black. Length, 50 mm . 
43. Apatela sp. 
Larva. — Head much smaller than in some Apatelae, but of the usual shape, not 
so wide at the prothorax, which is considerable narrower than the mesothoracic seg- 
ment. The body is cylindrical, thickest a little in front of the middle, and the seg- 
ments are somewhat convex and easily seen, as the segments are not concealed by the 
hairs. The hairs are short, stiff, and quite thick, and arise from white, rather large, 
mammillae which are arranged five on a side on each segment (except the first and 
two last). Along the middle of the back is a clear space between the mammillae. 
The hairs are whitish-yellow. The head and body are black. The mammillaB ou the 
end of the body (8-10 segments) are reddish. There is a broad, lateral, dull, brick- 
red band below the spiracles, which are white. The under side of the body between 
the prolegs is dull reddish, but the thoracic feet and uuder side of thoracic segments 
are dark, and the prolegs are dark livid purple black. The upper surface of the pro- 
thoracic segment has three granulated swollen areas, two oral ones in front and a 
median one behind. Length, 35 mm . 
The hairs are irritating to the skin, so that these bright-colored cat- 
erpillars are not eaten by birds, though often easily found and stung 
by Ichneumons and Tachinae. 
44. Apatela sp. 
Feeding on the upper branches in full sight a peculiar and rather conspicuous 
caterpillar. Providence, October 4. 
Larva. — Head large and full, nearly as wide as the body, jet black. Body long and 
thick, cylindrical; the three segments behind the head transversely folded dorsally. 
The lateral line well marked. Body and legs (all) dull black. The posterior half of 
each segment and the entire prothoracic with their fine white hairs giving a hoary 
appearance to the upper side of the body. Below the spiracles the hairs are thicker 
