ACRONICTA. By Dr. M. Dbatjdt. 
23 
A. superans Gn. (3 e) is much larger, otherwise in the colour and marking very much like the two superans. 
preceding; the area behind the reniform macula is remarkably light; the basal ray is entirely absent, instead 
of it a darkened nebulous stripe extends along the submedian fold from the base to the margin; the base of 
the proximal margin is tinted yellowish. Hindwing uniformly brown. From Canada to the south as far 
as Washington, to the west as far as the Mississippi. -—- The larva is green with feeble yellowish subdorsal lines 
and a velvety brown dorsal stripe; the tubercles only exhibit single black hairs. It lives on various fruit-trees, 
apples, plums etc.; also on birches and ashes. 
A. subochrea Grt. (3 f) is more uniformly and darker brown than superans, without the long nebulous subochrea. 
stripe on the submedian fold and without the light area behind the reniform macula with less distinct markings; 
the wings are not so broad as in superans. Widely distributed from Canada to the south as far as Virginia, 
to the west as far as the Rocky Mountains. — The larva is green with a darker lateral stripe and a lighter 
dorsal part with black transverse spots on the 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th rings; the tubercles exhibit several fine, 
soft, light hairs. It lives on Hamamelis. 
A. noctivaga Grt. (3 f) is somewhat like a small brumosa (3 e) with narrow wings, with very contra- noetivaga. 
stingly black markings on the white ground; of a particularly conspicuous white is the inner-marginal part 
of the postmedian line. Very widely distributed throughout the United States. —- The larva is dull black with 
a broad reddish sub ventral stripe and shorter black and longer grey hairs. On poplars and low plants. 
A. afflicta Grt. (= dolens Drc .) (3 g) is a remarkably dark species with a contrastingly white ring- afflicta. 
macula. Ground-colour reddish-brown covered with an intensely lustrous greenish black, so that the markings 
disappear more or less; only the proximal margin of the forewing is somewhat lighter grey. Hindwing white, 
in the $ dark, towards the margin more darkened with brown-striped veins. Canada to Texas, also found in 
Mexico (Jalapa). •—- The larva is reddish-brown with a black dorsal stripe, reddish lateral stripes and single 
black hairs; on oaks. 
A. hamamelis Gn. (3 f). Greyish-white, dusted with a blackish brown, the maculae but little projec- hamamelis. 
ting from the dark ground, the ring-macula at most with a slight whitish ring. The black basal ray is absent 
like in afflicta. Hindwing brown, at the margin darker with a darker discal spot and an undulate postmedian 
line. Wide-spread in the United States. — The larva is yellowish-grey, on the ventrum rusty red, both 
colours separated by a dark green lateral stripe and with 6 green dorsal spots; tubercles with 1 hair each. On 
Hamamelis virginiana. 
A. increta Morr. (3 f) is somewhat smaller, with narrower wings, dark grey with a greenish reflection increta. 
and a dark black basal area, the proximal margin of which remains whitish; maculae whitish, filled up with 
red-brown. The grey hindwings are dusted with red-brown. Canada, New York, New Jersey, Texas, New 
Mexico. — f. inconstans Sm. is a lighter form. inconstans. 
A. retardata Wkr. (= dissecta G. & II.) (3 f) is a very little species with comparatively broadly triangu- retardata. 
lar wings. Forewing grey without a reddish tint, in the discal area more whitish, behind it brown dusting. 
Hindwing whitish changing to brown. Canada, United States to Virginia. -— The larva is whitish, on each 
ring 5 claret-coloured transverse bands; the upper tubercles with short, stiff, black hairs, laterally with softer 
light hair. It lives on maple-trees. 
A. fumeola Dyar is a very small, purple grey species with subbasal, median and subterminal blackish fumeola. 
nebulous bands between which the black transverse lines are situate the posterior one of which shows whitish 
dusting. The reniform macula is large with a black ring, proximally somewhat dusted white. Hindwing brownish- 
grey. Expanse of wings: 23 mm. Mexico. 
A. caesarea Sm. (3 g) has a whitish ground-colour, dusted with olive-brown, only the discal area caesarea. 
remaining lighter; before the antemedian is a short, black basal ray; maculae small, whitish, strewn with brown, 
the postmedian band filled up with whitish. Hindwing greyish-brown. United States (New Jersey, Cansas). 
A. impleta Wkr. (= luteicoma Gr. & JR.) (3 g) is considerably larger than the preceding and with impleta. 
comparatively narrow wings. The ground-colour is a decided reddish brown, in fresh specimens with a yellowish 
admixture. The postmedian band likewise filled up with whitish, below the submedian fold more intensely 
so. Hindwing whitish, dusted with a yellowish brown, in the $ darker. United States to Texas; Canada. — 
Larva black with a yellow dorsal line and reddish sublateral lines; light tubercles with light brown hair-tufts, 
on the 5th ring black, the penultimate ring with 2 black pencils. It lives on species of Prunus, poplars. 
A. illita Sm. (3 g) resembles a very dark impleta without the yellowish tint on the hindwings which illiia. 
are somewhat lighter with darker veins. Canada, United States. — The description of the larva does not deviate 
from the preceding; the food-plants are also the same. 
Sect. II. Thorax predominantly covered with hair. ( Triaena Hbn.). 
A. quadrata Grt. (3 i) is denominated according to a square black spot between the wing-macula quadrata, 
and the reniform macula; the postmedian line is almost straight and below the lower radial but little bent inwards. 
The ground-colour is whitish-grey, more or less mixed with violettish-brown, particularly in the marginal area; 
