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Acronycta (apatela) lepusculina, Gue.—The Cottonwood Dagge r 
In his second report Prof. Riley described this species under the 
name Acronycta populi, stating that the caterpillar lives upon the cot¬ 
tonwood, not unfrequently stripping the trees of their foliage. I have 
occasionally found the moths, but have not found them sufficiently 
numerous to do serious damage. The moth has light gray fore wings, 
with a broken black band near the outer margin, and three or four 
other black spots in the middle portion. The hind wings are white, 
with black points in the fringe. 
‘ k This caterpillar, when full grown, rests curled round upon the leaf, 
and is easily recognized by its body being covered with long, soft, 
bright, yellow hairs, which grow immediately from the body, part on 
the back and curl round on each side. It has a shiny black head, 
black spots on the top of joints 1 and 2, and a straight black brush 
on the top of joints 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11. There are two broods of these 
worms each year, the first brood appearing the last of August and 
throughout September, and passing the winter in the chrysalis state.” 
—Riley. 
Acronycta (apatela) oblinita, Abb. and Lin.—The Smeared Dagger. 
Frequently during June and August or September, a caterpillar, 
covered with red bristles proceeding from crimson red w r arts, with a 
bright yellow band along the side, may be found on smart-weed, and 
occasionally on some shrubs and trees, among which are the apple, 
and the grape-vines. This is the larva of the Smeared Dagger, a gray 
moth with white hind wings; the fore wings rather narrow. 
On account of the insect parasites to which this species is subject, 
it seldom becomes sufficiently numerous to do much damage. When 
they do, hand-picking will serve to check their ravages. Recently 
Mr. J. S. Rogers, of Marengo, sent to this office two chrysalids of this 
insect found attached to apple twigs, with a request for information 
as to what they were, and wffiether they "would be likely to prove in¬ 
jurious. Both of the chrysalids sent had been parasitized, from one 
of which the parasite issued in a few days under the influence of the 
warm room in which it was placed. 
Spec. Char. Larva .—Prevailing color, black. Each joint with a 
transverse, dorsal, crimson red band across the middle from stigmata 
to stigmata, and containing six v r arts, each furnishing ten or twelve 
or more stifi yellow or fulvous bristles, and the two dorsal ones being 
farthest apart. A subdorsal, longitudinal, yellow line, interrupted by 
the transverse band and at incisures, in such a manner that the 
black dorsum appears somewhat diamond-shaped on each joint. A 
broad, wavy, bright yellow T , stigmatal line, containing a yellow, 
bristle-bearing wart in middle, on each joint. Lateral space occupied 
with different sized, pale yellov r spots, largest towards the dorsum. 
