i THE MOTH Boo EXPLANATION OF PLATE I (FRONTISPIECE) LARVAE OF MOTHS 1. Hyloicus cliersis Hiibner. 2. Callosamia promethea Drury. 3. Cucuilia convexipennis Grote & Robinson. 4. Citheronia regalis Fabricius. 5. Euchcetias egle Drury. 6. Sibine stimulea Clemens. 7. Catocala innubens Guenee. 8. Samia cecropia Linnaeus. 9. Prolimacodes scapha Harris. 10. Seirarctia echo Abbot & Smith. 11. Mamestra picta Harris. 12 Achatodes zece Harris. 13. Datana ministra Drury. 14. Phobetron pithecium Abbot & Smith. 15. Nerice bidenlata Walker. 16. Eurycyttarus confederata Grote & Robinson. 17. Lycia, cognataria Guenee. 18. Cerura multiscripta Riley. 19. Tortricidia testacea Packard. THE NEW NATURE LIBRARY THE MOTH BOOK A POPULAR~GUIDE TO A KNOWL- EDGE OF THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA ^ BY W. J. HOLLAND, D. D., PH. D., Sc. D., LL. D. DIRECTOR OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM, PITTSBURG, PA.; LATE CHANCELLOR OF THE WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA; PRESIDENT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA; FELLOW OF THE ZOOLOGICAL AND ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON ; MEMBER OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF FRANCE ; ETC., ETC. WITH FORTY-EIGHT PLATES IN COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY, AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT, REPRO- DUCING SPECIMENS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE AUTHOR, AND IN VARIOUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS VOLUME FIVE GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1916 COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY W. J. HOLLAND TO MY HONORED FRIEND, ANDREW CARNEGIE, WHOSE NAME IS A SYNONYM FOR FINANCIAL SAGACITY AND PRACTICAL BENEVOLENCE, I DEDICATE THIS BOOK PREFACE \17HEN a few years ago I published "The Butterfly Book," I ^' stated in the preface to that volume that I would follow it by the preparation of a similar work upon the moths of the United States and Canada, provided the reception given that venture should seem to justify me in so doing. "The Butterfly Book" was very favorably received, and not only I, but my publishers, have been besieged with letters from all parts of the continent, urging the fulfillment of the provisional promise made by me in 1898. A prompt compliance with these requests has, however, unfortunately been impossible, owing to the fact that my official duties, which are numerous and exacting, prevent me from devot- ing any but the evening hours to the work of literary composition. In addition to the difficulties arising from this source, there were other and even greater difficulties which presented themselves. The species of moths known to occur in the United States and Canada vastly exceed in number the species of butterflies found within the same limits. While it was possible to bring together brief descriptions and numerous illustrations of the majority of the species of butterflies found in the region, it became evident at the outset that in dealing with the moths it would be necessary to resort to a different method. It became plain that a process of selection would have to be followed, if the volume were to be kept within proper limits as to size and cost. It would have been comparatively easy to have selected from the abundant material at my command a series of the more showy insects, and to have illustrated these, but as it is the purpose of the series of the books of which "The Moth Book" is one to provide in reasonably compact form manuals which will with tolerable completeness cover the whole field, the plan had to be materially altered. In- stead, therefore, of attempting to briefly describe and figure all the thousands of species of moths which have been ascertained to Preface occur in North America north of Mexico, the effort was made to select those species which would adequately represent the various families and the commoner and more important genera, thus pro- viding a work which might serve as an introduction to the study. This process of selection had to be made with much patience and care. Another cause of delay arose from the fact that it is some- times difficult to obtain perfect specimens" for purposes of photo- graphic reproduction. Even where species are well known and common, and are abundantly represented in the collections to which I have access, it has not infrequently happened that it was almost impossible to discover specimens so perfect as to allow of their being reproduced by color-photography in a satisfactory manner. Minor defects, which signify little to a working natural- ist, and which can easily be eliminated from sight by a draughts- man, become very serious blemishes when resort is had to methods of photographic illustration. Much time had, therefore, to be spent in searching through various collections for the kind of material which was required, and often in remounting specimens which, while good enough for the cabinet, were not so set as to permit them to be employed in the photographic laboratory. Patience and perseverance, however, always bring in due time their re- ward, and I have been able to assemble enough properly prepared material to enable me in the main to accomplish my purpose. "Brevity is the soul of wit," and this fact has not been forgotten by the writer in preparing the pages of this book. The limitations necessarily imposed by the space available precluded the preparation of lengthy descriptions. This brevity in descrip- tion is, however, as the writer believes, abundantly compensated for by the illustrations in the Plates. One good recognizable figure of a species is worth reams of mere verbal description. Those who desire to go deeply into the subject, and who wish to famiharize themselves with all its technicalities, will find in the list of works named in that part of the introduction devoted to the bibliography of the subject much that they desire. I am indebted to many scientific friends for assistance, but to no one am I more indebted than to Dr. L. O. Howard, the Ento- mologist of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Honorary Curator of Entomology in the United States National Museum, and to his amiable associates, Dr. William H. Ashmead viii Preface and Dr. Harrison G. Dyar. With unfailing courtesy these gentle? men most generously aided me by allowing me to use the material in the National Collection, when it became necessary to do so, and in many other ways gave me invaluable help. I gratefully acknowledge the kindness of Professor J. B. Smith, of Rutgers College, who very graciously went over the Plates con- taining the Noctuidce, thereby saving me in several instances from errors in determination. My best thanks are due to Mr. William Beutenmuller, the Curator of Entomology in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, for his most obliging courtesy and for much valued assistance. To Mrs. Beutenmuller's facile fingers I owe the frontispiece and many illustrations in the text. To Sir George F. Hampson, of the British Museum, and to the Trustees of that great institution, a debt of gratitude is due for many favors, and especially for permission to use some of the illustrations employed in their publications. From Dr. Henry Skinner, of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and Mr. Jacob Doll, of the Brooklyn Institute, I received great assistance. To the Messrs. F. A. and H. S. Merrick, of New Brighton, Pa., to Dr. William Barnes, of Decatur, III., and to Mr. O. C. Poling, of Peoria, 111., I return thanks for the loan of specimens used for illustration. The Honorable Walter Rothschild and Dr. Carl Jordan, of Tring, England, placed me under special obligations by permitting me to see advance proofs of the pages of their great work upon the Sphingidce. To all of these gentlemen, as well as to scores of others, who have lent their aid in the preparation of the book, I extend my heartfelt thanks. While recognizing its imperfections, I trust that the volume will accomplish much to quicken an interest, especially among the young people in our schools and colleges, in that beautiful department of scientific inquiry, which it is designed to some extent to illustrate. DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, W. J. H. CARNEGIE MUSEUM, PITTSBURGH, PA. September 8, 1903. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Dedication ................. v Preface vii Table of Contents xi List of Illustrations in the Text xv List of Colored Plates xxiii INTRODUCTION CHAP. PAGE I. THE LIFE-HISTORY AND ANATOMY OF MOTHS . . . 3-18 How to distinguish a moth from a butterfly. The Eggs of Moths; Caterpillars: Structure, Form, Color, Habits, etc.; The Pupae of Moihs: Form, Covering, etc.; Anatomy of Moths: Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Legs, Wings. 11. THE CAPTURE, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION OF SPECI- MENS 19-21 Special Instructions for Mounting and Preparing the Smaller Forms. III. THE CLASSIFICATION OF MOTHS 22-26 The Difficulties of Classification. Various Views Entertained by Writers. Key to the Families of North American Heterocera. IV. BOOKS ABOUT THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA . . . 27-38 Early Writers. Periodicals.. General Catalogues and Lists. General Works Containing Information as to the Moths of ' North America. Works Particularly Useful in Studying the Different Families of the Moths of North America. Table of Contents THE BOOK THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO. PAGE Family I. The Sphingidae . . '-.' :' .'n. ..... 41 Family II. The Saturniidae 80 Family III. The Ceratocampidae 94 Family IV. The Syntomidae • v, * * 98 Family V. The Lithosiidae 103 Family VI. The Arctiidae , '. . ; ,. .114 Family VII. The Agaristidae 140 Family VIII. The Noctuidae . . . . 151 Family IX. The Nycteolidae .... . . '. ".'" . .288 Family X. The Pericopidae 289 Family XI. The Dioptidae 291 Family XII. The Notodontidae 292 Family XIII. The Thyatiridae 303 Family XIV. The Liparidae 305 Family XV. The Lasiocampidae 311 Family XVI. The Bombycidae 315 Family XVII. The Platypterygidae 320 Family XVIII. The Geometridae 322 Family XIX. The Epiplemidae 356 Family XX. The Nolidae 357 Family XXI. The Lacosomidae 359 Family XXII. The Psychidse . 360 Family XXIII. The Cochlidiidae . ... .... . . .364 Family XXIV. The Megalopygidae 368 Family XXV. The Dalceridse . 369 Family XXVI. The Epipyropidae 370 Family XXVII. The Zygaenidae 371 Family XXVIII. The Thyrididse 374 Family XXIX. The Cossida? 375 Family XXX. The ^geriidae 379 Family XXXI. The Pyralidae 391 Family XXXII. The Pterophoridae . . .'. . . . .415 Family XXXIII. The Orneodidae 417 Table of Contents PAGE Family XXXIV. The Tortricidae 417 Family XXXV. The Yponomeutidae 423 Family XXXVI. The Gelechiidae 424 Family XXXVII. The Xyloricitidae . . . -. . . .428 Family XXXVIII. The CEcophoridae 428 Family XXXIX. The Blastobasidae . ... . . . .'429 Family XL. The Elachistidae 430 Family XLI. The Tineidae "... 430 Family XLI I. The Hepialidae . . 443 Family XLI 1 1. The Micropterygidae . 444 DIGRESSIONS AND QUOTATIONS The World of the Dark 77 "Splitters" and "Lumpers" 112 Sugaring for Moths 146 The Tragedy of the Night Moth (Thomas Carlyle) . . 209 Walking as a Fine 'Art 270 Das Lied vom Schmetterlinge (Herder) 290 Ode to an Insect (Anacreon) ; 291 Nasu-no Take 301 Moth Song (Cortissoz) 310 The History of Silk Culture 316 Transformation (Henry Brooke) 321 Living and Dying (Gosse) 355 Far Out at Sea (Home) 363 Faunal Subregions 387 Cupid's Candle (Felix Carmen) . , 427 Clothes-moths ' . 434 The End of All (Tennyson) 445 xni LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT FIG. . PAGE 1. Dahlia hesperioides Pagenstecher ....;... 3 2. Egg of Peridroma saucia 5 3. Egg of Samia cecropia 5 4. Larva of Hyloicus kalmiae 7 5. PupaofTelea polyphemus 10 6. Pupa of cut-worm in underground cell 10 7. Front view of the head of a moth 12 8. Lateral view of the head of a moth 12 9. Antennae of moths ........ . . . 13 10. Antenna of Telea polyphemus . . . , ... . •• . ..,. . 13 1 1 . Legs of a moth '. 1 5 12. Diagram showing the structure of the wings of a moth 16 13. Neuration of the wings of Hepialus gracilis 17 14. Figures showing the frenulum and the retinaculum . . 17 1 5. Figure showing the maculation of the wings of a Noctuid 18 16. Setting-needle used in mounting microlepidoptera . . 19 17. Setting-board used in mounting microlepidoptera . . 20 18. Double mount 21 19. "As it is not done " 26 20. Three joints of the antenna of Protoparce quinquemacu- latus 41 21. Neuration of the wings of Sesia tantalus 42 22. Pupa of Protoparce quinquemaculatus .. . , . . . 43 23. Isoparce cupressi 48 24. Hyloicus eremitoides . . . , 50 25. Hyloicus canadensis 51 26. Protambulyx strigilis 54 27. Larva of Pholus satellitia 65 28. Larva of Pholus achemon 66 29. Larva of Darapsa myron . 68 30. Parasitized larva of Darapsa myron 69 List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 3 1 . Microgaster which preys upon the larva of Darapsa myron 69 32. Pupa of Darapsa myron ." . . 69 33. Larva and moth of Sphecodina abbotti 70 34. Light form of larva of Celerio lineata 76 35. Dark form of larva of Celerio lineata 76 36. Philosamia cynthia ' l: . •» . . 81 37. Cocoon of Samia cecropia .... 83 38. Larva of Callosamia promethea . . , 85 39. Cocoon of Callosamia promethea . . . . ;. . . . 85 40. Larva of Actias luna ....... .... 87 41. Larva of Telea polyphemus 88 42. Cocoon of Telea polyphemus 88 43. Larva of Automeris io 90 44. Eggs of Buck-moth . . 92 45. Larva of Buck-moth 92 46. Anisota rubicunda, larva and pupa 95 47. Crambidia pallida 104 48. Crambidia casta 104 49. Palpidia pallidior 105 50. Hypoprepia fucosa 106 51. Hsematomis mexicana 107 52. Comacla simplex 107 53. Bruceia pulverina 108 54. Clemensia albata 108 55. Illice unifascia 109 56. Illice subjecta 109 57. Lerina incarnata 1 1 1 58. Dodia albertae 117 59. Haploa lecontei 119 60. Haploa contigua 119 61. Euerythra phasma 120 62. Larva of Ecpantheria deflorata 120 63. Turuptiana permaculata 121 64. Seirarctia echo 122 65. Alexicles aspersa 122 66. Estigmene prima 122 67. Estigmene acraea 123 68. Isia isabella 125 xvi List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 69. Caterpillar and pupa of Isia Isabella 125 70. Phragmatobia fuliginosa 126 71. Phragmatobia yarrowi 127 72. Apantesis anna 130 73. Kodiosoma fulva 133 74. Ectypia bivittata . . .133 75. Euchaetias egle 135 76. Pygarctia elegans 136 77. Hypocrisias minima - '. '. ;«—.:'. . 136 78. Egg of Copidryas gloved :>.'- sr V *•'. . 141 79. Pupa of Copidryas gloved . . .- . ! v- V':. .: . - . . 142 80. Larva and moth of Copidryas gloveri .' . • V . . . . 142 81. Tuerta sabulosa v ' 1' : . . ; . . 143 82. Alypia disparata . .-'.' ;: .... 144 83. Alypia octomaculata .' J , 144 84. Alypiodes bimaculata 145 85. Apatela populi, $ 154 86. Apatela populi, larva 154 87. Apatela oblinita 158 88. Apharetra dentata 1 58 89. Apharetra pyralis 1 59 90. Cerma cora 161 91. Copibryophila angelica 162 92. Platyperigea praacuta 164 93. Platyperigea discistriga 164 94. Fishea yosemita3 170 95. Momaphana comstocki 172 96. Pyrophila pyramidoides, larva 173 97. Larva of Laphygma frugiperda 174 98. Moth of Laphygma frugiperda 174 99. Podagra crassipes 178 100. Abagrotis erratica 180 101. Metalepsis cornuta 181 102. Setagrotis terrifica 181 103. Agrotis ypsilon 182 104. Pronoctua typica 185 105. Feltia subgothica .''.-•'. . . 186 106. Eucoptocnemis fimbdaris 190 List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 107. Mamestra picta 194 1 08. Trichopolia serrata 199 109. Eupolia licentiosa 199 1 10. Larva of Heliophila unipuncta 200 in. Pupa of Heliophila unipuncta 200 112. Moth of Heliophila unipuncta 201 113. Larvae and eggs of Heliophila albilinea 202 114. Neleucania bicolorata 203 115. Stretchia muricina 205 116. Perigrapha prim a 205 1 17. Xylina antennata 206 1 1 8. Asteroscopus borealis 209 119. Bellura gortynides . . 211 120. Gortyna immanis 212 121. Larva of Papaipema nitela 213 122. Ochria sauzselitse 214 123. Pseudorthosia variabilis 216 124. Selicanis cinereola 216 125. Orrhodia calif ornica 218 126. Tristyla alboplagiata . . 220 127. Pippona bimatris 221 128. Bessula luxa . 221 129. Oxycnemis fusimacula 221 130. Boll-worm feeding on tomato 223 131. Heliothis armiger 223 132. Derrima stellata . . 224 133. Pseudacontia crustaria 225 134. Grseperia magnifka 225 135. Trichosellus cupes 226 136. Eupanychis spinosae . . . „ 226 137. Canidia scissa 226 1 38. Palada scarletina 229 139. Sympistis proprius 229 140. Heliodes restrictalis 230 141. Heliosea pictipennis 230 142. Eupseudomorpha brillians 231 143. Larva of Psychomorpha epimenis 232 144. Pseudalypia crotchi 232 List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 145. Larva of Euthisanotia grata 233 146. Acherdoa ferraria 234 147. Neumoegenia poetica 235 148. Autographa brassicae 239 149. Diastema tigris 241 150. Eutelia pulcherrima . 242 151. Alabama argillacea, egg, larva, and pupa 243 152. Anepischetos bipartita 245 153. Diallagma lutea 245 154. Incita aurantiaca 246 15*). Trtchotarache assimilis 246 156. Thalpochares aetheria 249 157. Gyros muiri 249 158. Tornacontia sutrix 250 159. Cerathosia tricolor :<.-• i~"Y << ?. . . .253 160. Hormoschista pagenstecheri 253 161. Sylectra erycata • . » .•:-'. . 254 162. Melanomma auricinctaria 255 163. Argillophora furcilla 255 164. Parora texana 255 165. Capnodes punctivena 277 166. Selenis monotropa 277 167. Latebraria amphipyroides 279 1 68. Epizeuxis americalis 280 169. Epizeuxis aemula 280 170. Zanclognatha protumnusalis 281 171. Sisyrhypena orciferalis 282 172. Hypenula cacuminalis 283 173. Hypenula opacalis 283 174. Tetanolita mynesalis 284 175. Dircetis pygmaea 284 176. Salia interpuncta 285 177. Lomanaltes eductalis 285 178. Hypena humuli 287 179. Eunystalea indiana 295 1 80. Euphyparpax rosea 298 181. Cargida cadmia . . . . .- . v'.'/-^U . . . .301 182. Hemerocampa leucostigma, moth . . . . - . . . .306 xix List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 183. Hemerocampa leucostigma, female moth, larva, and male and female pupae 307 184. Hemerocampa leucostigma, full grown female larva . . 307 185. Doa ampla 309 1 86. Leuculodes lacteolaria 310 187. Hypopacha grisea 312 1 88. Malacosoma americana, eggs, larvae, and cocoon. . .313 189. Malacosoma disstria, mature larva . . •<-. •'.«!».>•; ; > .313 190. Malacosoma disstria •*.?;.'«•:„,;. . 314 191. Larva of Bombyx mori ..„:*;. *j». . 316 192. Cocoon of Bombyx mori . . . ..,,.-..-'.,<«.. .316 193. Moth of Bombyx mori . . . ...>,v .. . *• . . . 316 194. Eudeilinea herminiata 320 195. Paleacrita vernata, egg, and larva . ,:\ ..*•..-. : . .325 196. Paleacrita vernata, male and female moths . . v . . 325 197. Alsophila pometaria, egg, larva, and pupa 326 198. Moths of Alsophila pometaria 326 199. Larva of Eois ptelearia 334 200. Moth and cocoon of Eois ptelearia 355 201. Fernaldella fimetaria 337 202. Cymatophora ribearia, moth 340 203. Egg of Goose-berry span-worm 340 204. Goose-berry span-worm 34 1 205. Coniodes plumigeraria 34') 206. Coniodes plumigeraria, larva 346 207. Nigetia formosalis ,•.,... . 3sS 208. Oiketicus abboti 361 209. Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis . ..-..,,..•,.. .361 210. Harrisina americana, larva, and moth 37? 211. Harrisina americana, larvae on grape-leaf 373 212. Zeuzera pyrina ; .« . .. ••'. . . . 376 213. Inguromorpha basalis 378 214. Cossula magnifica 379 215. Synanthedon acerni 386 216. Desmia funeralis 392 217. Glyphodes quadristigmalis ' 394 218. Phlyctaenodes sticticalis 395 219. Phlyctaenodes sticticalis, larvae ...-..„... 396 List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAGE 220. Phlyctaenodes sticticalis, pupa 396 221. Hypsopygia costalis 400 222. Pyralis farinalis 401 223. Diatraea saccharalis, larvae . . 403 224. Cornstalk attacked by Diatraea saccharalis 404 225. Moth and pupa of Diatrsea saccharalis 405 226. The Bee-moth . . » . H' ' .- . .'.'.. . . . 406 227. Mineola juglandis 408 228. Mineola indigenella, larvae and moth . . ! 409 229. Mineola indigenella, larval case among leaves . . . .410 230. Zophodia grossulariae . . 411 231. Canarsia hammondi 411 232. Ephestia kuehniella . . . 412 233. Cocoons of Ephestia kuehniella 413 234. Larva of Ephestia cautella 414 235. Ephestia cautella 414 236. Plodia interpunctella 415 237. Oxyptilus periscelidactylus . . . . . . . . . .416 238. Orneodes hexadactylus 417 239. Eucosma scudderiana 418 240. Ancylis comptana 419 241. Cydia pomonella 420 242. Alceris minuta 421 243. Phthorimaea operculella 424 244. Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis 425 245. Anarsia lineatella, larvae 426 246. Anarsia lineatella, moths 427 247. Depressaria heracliana 428 248. Holcocera glandulella 429 249. Walshia amorphella 430 250. Bucculatrix canadensisella 431 251. Bucculatrix pomifoliella 432 252. Tineola bisselliella (The Clothes-moth) 432 253. Tinea pellionella. (The Fur-moth) 433 254. Trichophaga tapetzella. (The Carpet-moth) .... 434 255. Prodoxus quinquepunctella, larvae ,. 438 256. Prodoxus quinquepunctella, moth 439 257. Prodoxus marginatus 439 xxi List of Illustrations in the Text FIG. PAG* 258. Prodoxus y-inversa 440 259. Prodoxus reticulata 440 260. Prodoxus coloradensis 440 261. Prodoxus cinereus 441 262. Pronuba yuccasella 442 263. Pronuba yuccasella, pupae 442 xxii LIST OF COLORED PLATES Produced by the color-photographic process of the American Colortype Company, New York and Chicago FACING PAGE I. Larvae of Moths Frontispiece II. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) . . ..'.,.., .'... 42 III. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths), &c. .".... . . 48 IV. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) 56 V. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) 62 VI. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) 70 VII. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) 76 VIII. Saturniidae, Ceratocampidae, &c 80 IX. Saturniidae, &c 84 X. Saturniidae, Ceratocampidae, Lasiocampidae ... 88 XI. Saturniidae, Ceratocampidae, Lasiocampidae, &c. . . 92 XII. Saturniidae, Cossidae, Lasiocampidae 96 XIII. Syntomidae, Lithosiidae, Arctiidae 108 XIV. Arctiidae 116 XV. Arctiidae 122 XVI. Arctiidae, &c 134 XVII. Arctiidae, Agaristidae, Noctuidae 140 XVIII. Noctuidae 156 XIX. Noctuidae 164 XX. Noctuidae 176 XXI. Noctuidae , 182 XXII. Noctuidae 188 XXIII. Noctuidae 194 XXIV. Noctuidae 204 XXV. Noctuidae . 210 XXVI. Noctuidae . 218 List of Colored Plates FACING PAGE XXVII. Noctuida 228 XXVIII. Noctuidse 240 XXIX. Noctuicte 252 XXX. Noctuidse . 260 XXXI. Noctuidse 262 XXXII. Noctuidas 266 XXXIII. Noctuidae 268 XXXIV. Noctuidae 270 XXXV. Noctuidaa 272 XXXVI. Noctuidae 276 XXXVII. Noctuid* 278 XXXVIII. Pericopidae, Dioptidae, Liparidae, Megalopygidae, &c 290 XXXIX. Notodontida 296 XL. Notodontidae, Thyatiridae, &c. ..'..... 300 XLI. Lasiocampidae, Hepialidae, Psychidae, Platyptery- 314 gidae, Lacosomidae, &c XLII. Noctuidae, -Nycteolidae, Geometridas 330 XLIII. Geometridae 338 XLIV. Geometridae 348 XLV. Geometridae 354 XLVI. y^geriidae ;.' . . 382 XLVII. Cochlidiidae, Zygaenidae, Thryrididae, Pyralidae . 394 XL VIII. Pyralidae, Tortricidae, Tineidae, &c 412 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I THE LIFE-HISTORY AND ANATOMY OF MOTHS "I suppose you are an entomologist?" "Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name. No man can be truly called an entomologist, sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp." OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, The Poet at the Breakfast Table. THE great order of the scale-winged insects, or lepidoptera, by the consent of almost all naturalists has been subdivided into two suborders, the Rhopalocera, or Butterflies, and the Hetero- cera, or Moths. As Dr. David Sharp well says, " The only definition that can be given of Heterocera is the practical one that all Lepidoptera that are not butterflies are Heterocera."* The distinction made between butterflies and moths, accord- ing to which all lepidoptera having clubbed antennae are to be classified as Rhopalocera, or butterflies, and those without clubbed antennae are to be classified as Heterocera, or moths, while holding good in the main, yet is found with the increase of our knowledge to have exceptions, and there are a few fami- lies of lepidoptera, apparently forming con- necting links between the butterflies and the moths, in which, while most of the structural characteristics are those of the Heterocera, the antennae are distinctly clubbed. This is true of the Castniidce, found in tropical America, FIG. i.— Dahlia the Neocastniida of the Indo-Malayan region, JSSS: the Euscbemonidce of Australia, and certain obscure genera of the Agaristidce, among them that remarkable insect, Dahlia hesperioides Pagenstecher, which occurs in the *Cambridge Natural History, Vol. VI. p. 366. 3 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths Bismarck Archipelago and the island of Buru. When, a few years ago, I communicated a specimen of this strange little moth to Sir George F. Hampson, he suggested that a trick had been played and that the head of a butterfly (a skipper) had been affixed to the body of a moth, but such was not the case, as a considerable series of specimens in my possession showed. The incident reveals that in classification hard and fast lines, based upon the character of a single organ, can not be always adhered to. There is scarcely any generalization in reference to organic structures which students have made which has not been found with the increase of knowledge to have its limitations. While all this is true, it is nevertheless also true that, so far as the lepidoptera of the United States and the countries of British North America are concerned, the old distinction between the two suborders, based upon the form of the antennae, holds good, with the sole excep- tion of '"he insects belonging to the genus Megathymus, which are by many authors classified with the Castniidce, and by others with the Hesperiidce. In the "Butterfly Book" 1 have left these insects with the Hesperiidce. Leaving them out of sight, we may say that all lepidoptera found in the region with which this book deals, and which do not possess clubbed antennae, are moths. The easiest way for the beginner who lives in the United States, or Canada, to ascertain whether the insect before him is a moth, is to first familiarize himself with the structure of the antennae of butterflies, and then by comparison to refer the specimens before him to their proper suborder. Moths undergo metamorphoses analogous to those through which butterflies pass. They exist first in the embryonic form as eggs. When the eggs hatch the insects appear as larvae, or caterpillars. .They are then, after undergoing a series of molts, transformed into pupae, or chrysalids, which may be naked, or may be provided with an outer covering, known as the cocoon, which is more or less composed of silk. After remaining for some time in the pupal state, they appear as perfect four-winged, six-footed insects. THE EGGS OF MOTHS The eggs of moths, like those of butterflies, consist of a shell containing the embryo and the liquid food upon which it subsists 4 FIG. 2. — Egg of Peridroma saucia, greatly enlarged. The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths until it has attained the degree of maturity which permits it to hatch, or come forth in the first larval stage. The eggs of moths have various forms. Spherical, hemispherical, cylin- drical, and lenticular, or lens-shaped eggs are common. The eggs of the Cochlidiidx, or Slug-moths, are broad and very flat, looking like microscopic pancakes. The surfaces of the eggs of moths are seen under a micro- scope to be more or less ornamented by raised lines and sculpturings. While in some cases the eggs of moths are beautifully spotted and mottled, they are generally quite plain in color, white, pale green, bluish- green, or brown. Like the eggs of butterflies, they are provided with a micropyle. The micropyle, in the case of such eggs as are globular, conical, or cylindrical, is situated on top. In the case of those eggs which are flattened or lenticular, the micro- pyle is located on the outer margin or rim. The eggs are always laid by the female in a state of freedom upon that food-plant which is most congenial to the larva. In captivity moths will often deposit their eggs in the receptacle in which they are con- fined. In such cases, unless the observer knows the food-plant upon which the species feeds, he will be apt to have great difficulty in rearing the larvae, unless by a happy chance he succeeds experimentally in ascertaining the proper plant. This may sometimes be done by introducing the leaves of a number of plants found in the neighborhood and observing those to which the young caterpillars resort. The date of oviposition varies with different families and genera. Some moths deposit their eggs in the fall and the young insect passes the winter' in the egg, emerging when the early springtime brings opening flowers and leaves. Some moths lay their eggs in the late summer and early fall; the eggs hatch shortly afterward, and the larvae, after molting one or more times, hibernate in the caterpillar state, and in the following spring resume the process of feeding and molting until such time as they are ready to undergo further transformation. Most 5 rm FIG. 3. — Egg of Samia cecropia, greatly enlarged. The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths moths in temperate regions oviposit in the spring or early summer, and the eggs hatch shortly afterward. THE CATERPILLARS OF MOTHS The caterpillars of moths are of course extremely small when they first emerge trom the egg. '1 hey, however, rapidly increase in relative size as they continue the process of feeding and molting, and in the case of some of the larger species become to the ignorant and uninformed even formidable in appear- ance. The larva of the Royal Walnut-moth, or " Hickory Horn- Devil," as it is sometimes called, is a striking object. (See Plate I, Fig. 4.) Specimens six and seven inches in length are not at all uncommon. With its curved horns and numeruos spines it presents to the uninitiated a truly repellent aspect. The larvae of the Heterocera, like those of the Rhopalocera, are principally phytophagous, that is to say, they feed upon vege- table matter. The food of the vast majority consists of the leaves of grasses, shrubs, and trees. A few larvae feed upon woody tissues, and bore long galleries under the bark or in the wood of trees. Others feed upon the pith of herbaceous plants. A number of species feed upon the inside of growing fruits. Only a very few species are known to be carnivorous. In Australia there occurs a Galleriid moth, the larva of which burrows into the fatty tissues of one of the great wood-boring caterpillars of the region, and preys upon it somewhat as is done by the great family of parasitic Hymenoptera, known to scientific men as the Ichneumonidce. Certain Phycids and Noctuids feed upon scale- insects, in the same way in which the larva of the butterfly known as Feniseca tarquinius feeds upon the same class of in- sects. Among the Tineidce there are certain species which, as is well known, feed upon hair and on horn. Every house- wife is more or less acquainted with the ravages committed by the destructive larvae of the clothes-moth. There is considerable variety in the form of heterocerous larvae, and still greater variety in the manner in which their bodies are adorned by various growths and colors. The body, as is the case with the larvae of the Rhopalocera, is composed normally of thirteen rings or somites, anterior to which is the head. The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths The head is usually prominent, and is provided with man- dibles, or jaws, eyes, rudimentary antennae, maxillae, palpi, and a spinneret for the production of silk. The head may be globular, hemispherical, or conoid. It is sometimes cleft on top, or bifid. It is generally more or less retractile, or capable of being drawn back, so as to be partially concealed in the folds of the anterior somite of the body. Of the thirteen somites forming the body of the caterpillar, the three foremost are thoracic, and each is furnished with a pair of legs which correspond to the six legs of the perfect insect, or imago. The last two somites of the body are often so closely united with each other as to be superficially indistinguishable. The somites from the third to the eleventh inclusive are provided on either side with spiracles connecting with the tracheae, through which the creature receives the external air in order to the oxy- dization of the waste products of the circulation. FIG. 4- — LarvaotHyloicuskalmia:a, thoracic legs; b, prolegs; c, anal proleg; d, anal horn; e, head. The body is usually supported at the middle and at the end by prolegs, or false legs. In the majority of families there are four pairs of these prolegs, situated upon the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth somites, and a fifth pair situated on the thirteenth or last somite. The latter pair are called the anal prolegs. In the larvae of the greater portion of the Geometridce, and in those of numerous Noctuidce, the prolegs are reduced in number, and in many of the Psychidce they appear to be wholly wanting. In most of the Geometridee the pair found on the ninth and thirteenth somites are the only prolegs, and therefore in order to progress the creature makes a series of movements in which the body is looped upward. These caterpillars are The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths known as " loopers " or "measuring-worms." When, as is the case with many genera of the Noctuidce, a less complete abortion of the prolegs occurs, and only a partial approximation to the movement employed by the larvae of the Geometridce is wit- nessed, the caterpillars are said to be " half-loopers," or "semi- loopers." As examples of such caterpillars we may cite those belonging to the genus Plusia, in which there are only two pairs of abdominal prolegs. In the family of the Megalopygidce the prolegs are supplemented by sucker-like pads on the somites ranging from the fifth to the tenth, inclusive. In the Cochlidiidce the prolegs are wanting, their function being wholly assumed by such sucker-like pads, ranging on the ventral surface from the fourth to the eleventh somites, inclusive. In the Eriocephalidce, which are regarded as ancestral forms, there are, as has been pointed out by Dr. T. A. Chapman, eight pairs of abdominal prolegs and an abdominal sucker situated upon the ninth and tenth somites, having the shape of a trefoil or clover leaf. These larvae are further remarkable in having well-developed antennae. After the larvae have emerged from the egg and fed for a longer or shorter period, the outer skin, or epidermis, becomes too small to admit of further growth, and the insect then molts, or sheds its skin, and resumes feeding until increased develop- ment makes another molt necessary. The number of such molts varies in the case of different species. Ordinarily, hetero- cerous caterpillars do not molt more than five times before trans- forming into pupae, but some genera molt as often as ten times, while others only molt thrice. The skin which is cast off pre- serves the outline not only of the body, but also of the horn-like processes, the hairs, and various other appendages attached to the body at the time of molting. The molting period is a critical time in the life of larvae, and those who are endeavoring to rear them should never disturb them in the least at this time. The bodies of the larvae of moths are covered with tubercles, the location and arrangement of which has in recent years received considerable attention from students, and is thought to furnish a clue to the lines of descent of certain families. These tubercles sometimes carry only a single hair, in other cases they carry large tufts of hairs; they may be small and inconspicuous, or they may be developed until they assume the form of great 8 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths spines, horns, or bulbous projections. The hairs and spines with which some larvae are ornamented possess stinging proper- ties. This is true of some genera among the Saturniidce and the Cochlidiidce in temperate America and of many genera in the same families and among the Lasiocampidce in the tropics. The sting- ing hairs of a large caterpillar found in tropical Africa are employed by the natives in preparing the poison which they put upon their arrows. The inflammation caused by these hairs, even in the case of specimens long dead, I know from personal experience to be very severe. The coloration of caterpillars is often very striking and beau- tiful, and in most cases is such as to adapt them more or less to their surroundings in life. Cases of protective mimicry are very numerous. A beautiful illustration of this is seen on Plate I, fig. 1 5, where the singular form of the caterpillar, combined with its green tint, suggests the serrated edge of the leaf of the elm, upon which plant it feeds. There is almost endless diversity in the modifications of form and color in the larval stages of moths, and they are as characteristic as are the forms and colors of the perfect insects. There is much diversity in the social habits of the larvae of moths. Some are gregarious and exist in colonies which disperse at the time of pupation; but there are a few singular instances, in which the communistic instinct perdures, and leads the entire colony to form a common cocoon, or envelope of silk, in which each individual subsequently spins a smaller cocoon for itself. In 1893 1 had the pleasure of communicating some information in regard to this curious phase of insect life to the pages of the journal of the Cambridge Entomological Club (See Psyche, Vol. VI., p. 385). This habit is characteristic of certain genera of African moths, but has not thus far been observed as occur ring in the case of any American species. THE PUP^E OF MOTHS When the caterpillar has gone through its successive molts and attained to full development it undergoes the transformation known as pupation. From a life of freedom and motion it passes into a condition in which freedom and almost all power of motion are lost. The flexible and more or less agile body is 9 FIG. 5.— Pupa of Telea pclypkemus. (Riley.) The Life -History and Anatomy of Moths encased in hard chitinous rings and sheathings. As a measure of protection during this stage, the insect, before transforming into a pupa, descends into the earth, and forms there a cell at a greater or lesser depth beneath the surface, or else weaves a cocoon of silk about its body. In some cases the transformation takes place at the surface of the earth under leaves or under fallen branches and the loose bark of trees. In almost all such cases there is apparently an at- tempt, though often slight, to throw a few strands of silk about the body of the caterpillar, if only to hold in place the loose material amidst which transformation is to occur. The forms assumed in the pupal stage are not as remarkably diversified as in the larval or imaginal stages. The pupae of moths are generally brown or black in color, though a few are more or less variegated. The bright golden and silvery spots which ornament the pupae of many species of butterflies, causing them to be called chrysalids, are seldom, if ever, found. While the change into a pupa might at first sight appear to the superficial observer to be disadvantageous because of the loss of motion and the imprisonment within narrow bounds, it neverthe- less distinctly marks a progression in the life of the creature. The pupal case contains within it the moth, as may easily be ascertained by a care- ful dissection made in the very earliest period after the change has occurred, FIG. 6. — Pupa of Cut- worm in earthen cell. (Riley.) and which becomes very evident at a later time when the period of the pupal life is drawing to its close. In the cocoon or in the cell in which pupation has taken place will always be found the exuviae, or the larval skin, etc., of the caterpillar, which have been cast off. When the time comes for the perfect insect to emerge from the pupa, nature has provided methods by which escape from the prison cell underground, or the tightly woven cocoon, can be effected. In the case of those pupae which lie deeply buried 10 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths under the soil escape is made by means of the power possessed by the abdominal somites, or rings, of moving with a sort of spiral twist. The pupa "wriggles" itself upward through the soil until it reaches the surface, following in its course the line of least resistance, which is generally the line through which the larva burrowed downward to its hiding place. In this movement the pupae are often aided by spinous projections at the lower edge of the somites which prevent backward motion. When emer- gence from a cocoon occurs, the insect is provided with the power of ejecting from its mouth a fluid, which has the property of dissolving and cutting the silken threads. When the moth first emerges from the pupa its wings are soft and flabby and its body is long and vermiform. The first act is to secure a quiet resting place. The fluids of the body are in the process of circulation rapidly absorbed from the abdominal region, and, pressing out- ward under the action of the heart, cause the wings to expand and assume their normal form and the other parts to acquire adjustment. There is no more interesting spectacle than to witness the rapid development of a moth from its apparently helpless condition at emergence from the pupal stage into an insect strong of wing and often gloriously beautiful in color. THE ANATOMY OF MOTHS The body of all lepidoptera consists of three subdivisions, the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. The head bears the princi- pal organs of sense and of nutrition, the thorax those of locomo- tion, and the abdomen those of generation and in large part those of assimilation, respiration, and circulation. The reader who desires to ascertain the names and the func- tion of the various organs of the body of moths may consult in this connection the corresponding portion of the " Butterfly Book," in which the principal facts have been fully set forth as to the diurnal lepidoptera. The anatomy of moths does not radically differ in its main outlines from that of the Rhopalocera. The same names are applied to the parts, and the differences which occur are not so much differences in function as in outline. In studying the head of moths we find that as a rule the head is not as prominent as is the case in butterflies. It is more retracted, as a rule, though in the case of some families, II FIG. 7. — Head of a moth viewed from in front, a, antenna; c, clypous ; e, eye ; oc, ocel- lus; p, proboscis. The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths as the Sphingidce, it is produced well in advance of the thorax, but even in such cases it is generally more solidly attached to the ante- rior part of the thorax and is less mobile than in the butterflies. The suctorial apparatus is formed in the moths as in the case of the butter- flies by the peculiar modification of the maxillae into semi-cylindrical and inter- locking tubes forming the proboscis. This is enormously produced in some groups, enabling the insect to hover upon the wing over flowers and rob their cups of the honey which they contain. This is especially true of the Sphingidcv and some subfamilies of the Noctuidce. In other cases, as in the family of the Satur- niidce and Bombycidce, the proboscis is very feebly developed or aborted. In fact, we know that some of these creatures are without mouths and that they do not partake of nourishment in the winged state. They are simply animate, winged reservoirs of reproductive energy, and, when the sexual functions have been completed, they die. The eyes of moths are often greatly developed. This is especially true of those species which are crepuscular in their hab- its. The eyes of the heterocera are, as in all other insects, compound. They may be naked, or may be more or less studded with hairs, or lashes, projecting from points lying at the juncture of the various facets making up the organ. This fact has been utilized to some extent in classification. Ocelli, or minute simple eyes, subsidiary to the large compound eyes, occur in some forms, just above the latter, but are generally so concealed by the covering of the head as to be only recognizable by an expert observer. The labial palpi of moths, as of butterflies, consist of three joints, but there' is far greater diversity in the development of the palpi among the moths than among the butterflies. In some FIG. 8.— Head of a moth viewed from the side, a, antenna; e, eye; oc, ocellus; m.p., maxillary palpus ; I. p. , labial palpus; p, pro- boscis. The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths cases they are but very feebly developed, in others they attain relatively enormous proportions and strangely eccentric forms. Maxillary palpi are found in some groups. The maxillary palpi have two joints. The antennae of moths, which, as has already been pointed out, differ greatly in form from those of butterflies, are attached to the head in the same relative location as in butterflies. Antennae may be filiform, threadlike, fusiform, spindle-shaped, or dilate, more or less swollen toward the tip. They may be simple, i. e., without lateral projec- FIG. 9. — Antennae of moths. I, fusiform; 2, filiform; j, dilate; 4, ciliate ; 5, bipectinate ; 6, setose- ciliate; 7, fasciculate; 8, dentate; p, serrate; 10, lamellate. tions, but this is rarely the case. The shaft may be set with cilia, or small hair-like projections on the side of the joints. Such antennae are said to be ciliate. Sometimes instead of cilia we find bristle-shaped projec- tions on the joints. These are called setose antennae. In some FIG. 10. — Antenna of Telea polyphemus. Plu- mose; doubly bipectinate. (From " Insect Life," Vol. VII. p. 40.) forms both cilia and bristles occur on the antennae. When the bristles are arranged in clusters on the joints of the antennae they are said to be fasciculate. Many forms have tooth-like projections on the antennae; in such cases the antennae are described as den- The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths fate. The form and arrangement of the joints may be such as to suggest the teeth of a saw; such antennae are said to be serrate. When on the lower side of the joints of the antennae there are minute plate-like projections, the antennae are described as lamel- late. Many moths have pectinate antennae, the projections resem- bling little combs, which may be arranged singly or in pairs on each joint. Occasionally, but not often, there are two pairs of such appendages on each joint. When the pectination is excessive, so as to cause the antennae to resemble a feather, they are said to be plumose. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate some of these forms. In addition to the peculiarities which have just been mentioned, antennae may be variously adorned with scales, especially upon the upper side of the shaft, and they may be notched, or provided with knot-like enlargements, in which case they are said to be nodose, or they may be curved, or bent in peculiar ways, when they are described as sinuate. The thorax, as in butterflies, consists of three segments, the prothorax, the mesothorax, and the metathorax. The pro- thorax bears the tegulae or collar-lappets, the patagia, or shoulder- lappets, and the anterior pair of legs. The mesothorax carries the second pair of legs and the fore wings. The metathorax the last pair of legs and the hind wings. The abdomen, just as in butterflies, is normally composed of nine segments, though the modifications of the terminal seg- ments are often such as to make it difficult to recognize so many. At the base of the thorax is situated a pair of large tracheal spiracles, and on the other segments pairs of smaller spiracles. Through these spiracles respiration is carried on. At the end of the abdomen, more or less concealed by variously arranged tufts of hair, are the organs of generation, which have in recent years been studied quite closely by a few authors and are useful in distinguishing species. The legs of moths are composed of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, and tarsus, the latter composed of five joints, and armed at its end with two more or less developed hooks, or claws, known technically as the ungues, and also a pulvillus, or pad, just back of the claws on the lower side. The legs are armed with spines and spurs, and there are different sexual appendages in the males of various genera. The cut (Figure 1 1) shows the structure 14 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths of the legs. It will be well for the student to thoroughly famil- iarize himself with the location and names of the different parts indicated in this and the following figure. U.T FIG. ii. — Legs of a Moth. (From "Packard's Guide," p. 231.) i. FORE LEG. 2. MIDDLE LEG. 3. HIND LEG. c. Coxa. u. Ungues. t. Trochanter. p. Pulvillus. /. Femur. 9 sp. i . Single anterior spur. t. Tibia. sp. 2. Paired medial spurs, tor. Tarsus. sp . 3. Two pairs of posterior spurs. The structure of the wings of moths is essentially like that of butterflies, and consists of a framework of hollow tubes which support a double membrane which bears upon its surfaces the scales, which overlap each other like the tiles upon the roof of a house. The tubes, which are known as veins, communicate with the respiratory system and are highly pneumatic. They are also connected with the circulatory system, and are furnished, at least through their basal portions, with nerves. The fore wing has normally twelve veins. The hind wing has also in primitive forms, as the Hepialidce, twelve veins, but in the vast majority of cases this number has been reduced, and eight veins is the number which is found in the majority of cases in the hind wing. The accompanying figures, with their expla- nations, will suffice far better than any mere verbal explanation to explain the structure of the wings of moths. (See Figures 12 and 13.) The relative position of vein five in relation to the median or subcostal systems has been much utilized in recent years by systematists in their classification of the various groups. 15 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths The fore and hind wings in some of the primitive forms are not connected with each other in the operation of flight. In the Hepialidce there is a lobe near the base of the primaries which is sn 11 FIG. 12. — Diagram of Wings of a Moth. (After Hampson's "Moths of India," Vol. I., with modifications.) A. FORE WING. B. HIND WING. c.m. Costal margin. c.n. Costal nervure, vein 1 2 of fore wing, a.m. Outer margin. 8 of hind wing. •i.m. Inner margin. s.n. Subcostal nervure. a. a. Apex. tn.n. Median nervure. •i.a. Inner angle. ia,b,c. Three branches of internal nervure. c. Discoidal cell. 2,3,4. Three branches of median nervure. d. Discocellulars. 5. Lower radial. ar. Areole. 6. Upper radial f. Frenulum. 7,8,9,10,11. Five subcostal branches of fore wing. 7. Subcostal nervure of hind wing. known as thejugum, but it does not appear to serve the practical functions of a yoke. This is illustrated in Figure 13. In the vast majority of cases a connection between the fore and hind wings is made by means of the frenulum on the hind wing, which hooks into the retinaculum upon the fore wing, as illustrated in Figure 14. The form of the frenulum is of use in determining the sex of specimens, as in the case of the males it consists of a single curved, hook-like projection, whereas in the case of the females it is split up into a number of bristles. However, in some 16 The Life-History and Anatomy of Moths groups, as the Phycitina:, the frenulum is simple in both sexes. In some of the families the frenulum is aborted, and its function is assumed by a lobe-like expansion of the basal portion of costa of the hind wing. The nomenclature of the parts of the wings of moths is not essentially different from that which is employed in describing the wings of butterflies. There are, however, certain conventional terms which have been applied by authors to the markings upon the wings, espe- cially of the Noctuidce, and Figure 15 will serve to explain and illustrate these terms. A great deal of useful information in regard to the anatomical structure of the Lepidoptera, and of moths in particular, may be FIG. 13. — Win} Hepialus gracilis. J nified. /, jugum. s of [ag- FIG. 14. — Frenulum and Retinaculum. (From "Moths of India," Vol. I.) i. $ ; 2. ?. — A. FORE WING. /. Frenulum. r. Retinaculum. c.n. Costal nervure. B. HIND WING. s.n. Subcostal nervure. m.n. Median nervure. i.n. Internal nervure. derived from the study of various manuals and special papers, reference to which will be made hereafter a's the various families are successively taken up and studied. Among works to be particularly recommended in this connec- tion are those of Professor A. S. Packard and Professor Comstock's "Manual for the Study of insects." A very useful treatise is found in Professor David Sharp's two volumes upon the Insecta contained in the " Cambridge Natural History." Every student, as he advances in the study of the subject, will have frequent occasion to consult these useful books, which embody the results of the most recent researches and are invaluable for purposes of The Life- History and Anatomy of Moths reference. An even more valuable work than these is the great "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalsense contained in the Collec- tion of the British Museum," which is being prepared bv Sir FIG 15. — Wing of Noctuid Moth. (After Beutenmuller, "Bulletin American Museum Natural History," Vol. XIV., p. 230.) C, collar lappet; tg, patagium or shoulder lappet; T, thorax; ab, abdomen; H, head; p, palpus; E, eye; ant, antenna; b, basal line; bd, basal dash; ta, transverse anterior line; cl, claviform; or, orbicular; ms, median shade; ren, reniform; tp, transverse posterior line; ap, apical patch; apex, apex; //, terminal lunules; st, subterminal line; fr, fringes; om, outer margin; ha, hind angle; ds, discal mark ; el, exterior line; an, anal angle; im, inner margin. George F. Hampson, and published by the Trustees. The endeavor in this work is to give a complete view of the entire subject in compact form, and the learned author has enlisted the cooperation of the most distinguished lepidopterists through- out the world in the prosecution of his great task. The work is of course somewhat expensive, but the working lepidopterist cannot well do without it. Much help may also be derived from the older works of Burmeister and Westwood, which, though old, are far from being obsolete and useless. 18 CHAPTER II THE CAPTURE, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS " Does he who searches Nature's secrets scruple To stick a pin into an insect ?" A. G. CEHLENSCHLJEGER, Aladdin's Lamp. EVERYTHING that has been said in "The. Butterfly Book" in reference to the capture, preparation, and preservation of speci- mens holds good in the case of the Heterocera. Inasmuch, however, as many of the moths are exceedingly minute in form, it is worth while to state that a greater degree of care must be observed in the collection and preservation of these minute species than is necessary in the case of even the smallest butter- flies. The best method of collecting the micro-lepidoptera is to put them, after they have been netted, into pill-boxes, which have glass covers, or into vials or test tubes of large size. These receptacles may be carried in a bag or pocket by the collector. When he has returned from the field, the specimens may be killed by subjecting them to the action of sulphuric ether applied to the corks of the vials, or introduced into the boxes on a camel's-hair pencil. By dipping the cork into the ether and moistening it with a drop or two and then replacing it in the vial the insect is stunned. Sometimes two or three successive applications of ether are necessary. When the insect has been killed and is still FIG. 1 6. — Setting needle used in adjusting wings of micro- lepidoptera upon the glass surface of the setting board. lax, it is fixed upon a small silver pin of a size proportionate to that of its body, and is then transferred to the setting board. Setting boards for mounting micro-lepidoptera should be made 19 The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens differently from setting boards commonly used for butterflies and larger moths. The best form known to the writer is one, which has for many years been employed by Mr. Herbert H. Smith, the vet- eran collector. Small pieces of glass about one inch square, with their edges very lightly beveled, so as to remove all sharpness, are spaced upon a strip of cork fastened to a wide piece of soft pine in such a way that an interval of from one-sixteenth to one- eighth of an inch occurs between them. This serves as the groove to receive the body of the specimen. Having been fixed upon the pin the insect is placed in one of these grooves. The wings are then carefully expanded with a crooked needle fastened in a handle, as illustrated in Figure 16, and are then bound FIG. 17. — Setting board for mounting micro-lepidoptera ; a, pieces of glass attached to papered cork with shellac ; b, base of soft pine ; co., cork ; d, white paper covering cork ; ee, brads, to which setting threads are tied ; ff, pins set firmly beyond groove to secure alignment of setting threads ; it, setting threads ; pp, pins to which setting threads are fastened, and which are stuck into the pine base to hold down the wings in position ; h, small silver pin transfixing thorax of specimen. in place by a thread which is held in place by a pin, as shown in Figure 17. Though the wings of these small insects may, when mounted, at first curl up a little under the pressure of the thread drawn across them, they generally recover their -position after removal from the setting board. The advantage of mounting these insects upon glass arises from the fact that the sharp point of the needle will glide over the glass and the surface is smooth, 20 The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens so that they are not torn, nor are the fringes and other delicate portions injured. In doing this work it is best to use a reading- glass mounted in a frame, so that the operator can seethe objects before him magnified two or three diame- ters. The mounting of micro - lepidoptera taken in the field and put into envelopes, as often has to be done, is a very trying opera- tion. After the insects have been sufficiently dried they may be set up as double mounts, the small silver pins being thrust through pieces of pith held upon a larger pin. The FIG. 18. — Double Pyralidce, the Tortricidce and all the smaller micro-lepidoptera should, if possible, be collected in the way which has just been described, and it is only thus that specimens worthy of installation in a well ordered cabinet can be secured. Larger forms may be placed in envelopes if intended to be transmitted to great distances prior to study. Larvae may be inflated in the manner described in "The Butterfly Book." In all other particulars the directions contained in that volume may be safely followed by the student. As the moths around a taper, As the bees around a rose, As the gnats around a vapour, So the spirits group and close Round about a holy childhood, as if drinking its repose." E. B. BROWNING,/* Child Asleep. 21 CHAPTER III THE CLASSIFICATION OF MOTHS "The filmy shapes that haunt the dusk." TENNYSON, In Memoriam, xciii. THE insects of to-day, like the animals of all other classes found upon the globe, represent lines of descent from an ancestry, which runs back into the remote geologic past. The attempt to trace the lines of descent in any order by studying the resem- blance between genera and species as they exist to-day, while throwing considerable light upon the subject, can never yield wholly satisfactory results in the absence of testimony derived from the field of paleontological inquiry. The study of fossil insect life is as necessary to elucidate the story of the development of the insect world, as the study of fossil vertebrates is necessary in order to understand the manner in which existing mammals have been derived from preexisting forms. At best descent can only be positively asserted within the lines of those groups, to which naturalists have given the name of families. Within these it is possible to declare of this or that genus that it has been possibly, or even probably, derived from the same stock as another. Reference to a common ancestral form may safely be predicated of very few families, so far as such assertion of a common parentage rests upon evidences found in the living structures of to-day. All attempts to classify the lepidoptera in such a manner as to show the derivation of one of the existing families from another, and to maintain a lineal sequence in the order given, must necessarily prove wholly disappointing. The fact is, that the various families represent divergences from the parent stem, which may be likened to the divergence of the branches from the trunk of a tree. Any system of classification, which leaves this 22 The Classification of Moths fact out of sight, is necessarily defective, and as unnatural as it would be for a man to lop off the branches of a tree, and then, laying them down side by side, declare, as he contemplated the result of his labors, "This is a tree scientifically arranged." In- asmuch, however, as in books and cabinets serial order must be preserved, the best that the student can do is to collocate those forms, which display some traces of likeness, and give some hint of their common origin. Exceedingly different views have been entertained by natural- ists in recent years in reference to the matters which we are dis- cussing, and various schemes of systematic arrangement have been evolved, many of which are contradictory, and not a few of which appear to the unprejudiced to be more ingenious than natural. Inasmuch as this book is intended for the use not so much of advanced students, as of those who are entering upon the study of the subject, it does not seem to the writer worth while to encumber these pages with what would necessarily be a lengthy recital of the various schemes for classification to which he has alluded. He is inclined to regard the scheme which has been adopted by Sir George F. Hampson in the preparation of his great work upon the moths of the world, which is now being issued by the Trustees of the British Museum, as upon the whole as satisfactory as any which has recently been evolved. Inas- much, however, as Dr. Harrison G. Dyar has quite recently pub- lished a List of the Lepidoptera of the United States, which is certain for many years to come to be used very largely by Ameri- can students in arranging their collections, it has seemed upon the whole to be best to conform the text of the present volume to the serial arrangement given in Dr. Dyar's List, although the writer differs very positively from the learned author of that work in his views as to the position which should be held in relation to each other of a number of genera. The last word in reference to the classification of the insects contained in this group has certainly not yet been spoken by any one, and we are very far from having attained in our studies to conclusions which may be accepted as final. For the assistance of students the writer herewith gives a key to the families which are represented in this book, which is based upon the key given by Sir George F. Hampson in the first 23 The Classification of Moths volume of his "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae," and in the preparation of which he has been assisted by Dr. Dyar. KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF NORTH AMERICAN HETEROCERA. Antennae not clubbed or dilated, or frenulum present when clubbed or dilated. Frenulum present when not otherwise indicated. . i i — Hind wing with cell emitting not more than six veins ; wings unlike in shape 2 Hind wing with cell emitting more than six veins; wings similar in shape 44 2 — Hind wing with vein ic absent 3 Hind wing with vein ic present 22 3 — Fore wing with vein 5 nearer 4 than 6 4 Fore wing with vein 5 from middle of discocellulars or nearer 6 than 4 15 4 — Hind wing with vein 8 absent Fam. 4, SyntomidcB. Hind wing with Vein 8 present 5 5 — Hind wing with vein 8 remote from 7 6 Hind wing with vein S touching or approximate to 7 beyond cell . . : 1 2 6 — Hind wing with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to near or beyona middle 7 Hind wing with vein G anastomosing with cell near base only 9 Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell by a bar. .Fam. 14, Liparidce. 7 — Ocelli present Fam. 6, ArctiidcB. Ocelli absent 8 8 — Fore wing with tufts of raised scales in the cell. .Fam. 20, Nolidce. Fore wing withoiit such tufts Fam. 5, Lithosiidce. 9 — Antennae with shaft more or less dilated toward tip Fam. 7 , Agaristidce. Antennae with sliaft not dilated 10 10 — Hind wing with veins 3 and 4 stalked Fam. 10, Pericopida. Hind wing with veins 3 and 4 not stalked 1 1 ii — Fore wing with costa and inner margin parallel, arched at base .... ; . Fam. 9, Nycteolidae. Fore wing trigonatc Fam. 8, Noctu',d&. ia — Hind wing with vein ia absent or not reaching anal angle Fam. 17, Platypterygidce. Hind wing with vein ia reaching anal angle 13 13 — Frenulum present Fam. 28, Thyrididce. Frenulum absent Fam. 15, Lasiocampidae. 14 — Hind wing with vein 8 diverging from cell from base 15 Hind wing with vein 8 connected or approximate to cell 17 15 — Tongue absent; no tibial spurs; frenulum absent . . Fam. 2, Saturniida. Tongue and tibial spurs present; frenulum absent Fam. 3, Ceratocampidai. 24 The Classification of Moths 16 — Hind wing with vein 8j-emote from 7 '. 17 Hind wing with vein 8 approximated to or united with 7 21 17 — Proboscis absent; frenulum absent Fam. 16, BombycidtB. Proboscis present 1 8 1 8 — Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell to near middle; vein 5 weak Fam. 1 2 , N otodontidcB . Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell near base only or vein 5 strong 19 19 — Fore wing with veins 3 and 4 separate 20 Fore wing with veins 3 and 4 stalked Fam. 1 1 , Dioptidce. ao — Fore wing with vein 8 stalked with 9 Fam. 19, Epiplemidce. Fore wing with vein 8 not stalked with 9 . . Fam. 18, Geometridce. 21 — Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell by a bar . . Fam. i, Sphingidas. Hind wing with vein 8 not joined to cell by a bar.. Fam. 13, Thyatiridae. 33 — Wings divided into plumes 23 Wings not divided into plumes 24 23 — Fore wing divided into four plumes Fam. 32, Pterophoridae. Fore wing divided into six plumes Fam. 33, Orneodidce. 24 — Hind wing with vein 8 absent Fam. 30, /Egeriida. Hind wing with vein 8 present 25 25 — Fore wing with vein 5 from middle of discocellulars or nearer 6 than 4 Fam. 2 1 , Lacosomidce. 26 — Hind wing with vein 8 anastomosing with or closely approximated to vein 7 Fam. 3 1 , Pyralidae. Hind wing with vein 8 remote from 7 26 27 — Vein 8 of hind wing anastomosing with cell at base 28 Vein 8 free or united to cell by a bar 29 28 — Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell to middle; fore wing with a branch to vein i below • Fam. 24, Megalopygidce. Hind wing with vein 8 joined to cell at base; no branch to vein i below Fam. 23, Cochlidiidce. 29 — Mid spurs of hind tibiae very short or absent 30 Mid spurs of hind tibiae, or at least one, well developed 34 30 — Proboscis absent t 31 Proboscis present; vein 8 joined to the cell by a bar Fam. 2 7 , Zygce*id&. 3 1 — Female winged 32 Female not winged Fam. 22, Psychidae. 32 — Abdomen extending beyond hind wings Fam. 29, Cossidce. Abdomen not extending beyond hind wings 33 33 — Antennas short; larvae free Fam. 25, Dalceridce. Antennas long as usual; larvae parasitic Fam. 26, Epipyropida. 34 — Palpi obtuse Fam. 34, Tortrtcida. Palpi more or less acute 35 35 — Head at least partly roughly haired Fam. 41, Tineida (part). Head smooth, or with loosely appressed scales .36 The Classification of Moths 36 — Antennae with basal eye-cap Fam. 41, Tineidce (part). Antennae without basal eye-cap 37 37 — Maxillary palpi developed 38 Maxillary palpi rudimentary 39 38 — Fore wing with vein 7 to outer margin Fam. 35, Y ponomeutidcB (part). Fore wing with vein 7 to costa Fam. 41, Tineidce (part). 39 — Hind wing with vein 8 more or less distinctly connected with cell; outer margin usually sinuate 40 Hind wing with vein 8 not connected with cell 41 40 — Fore wing with vein 7 to outer margin or apex Fam. 37 , Xylorictida. Fore wing with vein 7 to costa Fam. 36, Gelechiidce. 41 — Hind wing with veins 6 and 7 nearly parallel 42 Hind wing with veins 6 and 7 approximated or stalked 43 43 — Posterior tibiae hairy f Fam. 38, CEcophoridce. \ Fam. 39, Blastobasidce*. Posterior tibiae smooth Fam. 35, Y ponomeutidce . 43 — Hind wing elongated ovate, longer than fore wings Fam. 35, Y ponomeutidce (part). Hind wing lanceolate or linear, shorter than forewings Fam. 40, ElachistidcB. 44 — Maxillary palpi and tibial spurs absent Fam. 42, Hepialidae. Maxillary palpi and tibial spurs developed. .Fam. 43, Micropterygidae. * No good character has been shown at present for the separation of the CEcophorida and the Blastobasid.-e. 26 CHAPTER IV BOOKS ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN MOTHS THE literature of our subject is quite extensive, and the most important portions of it are contained in the publications of various learned societies and institutions. The first references to the subject are found in the writings of Linnaeus, Johanssen, Clerck, Fabricius, Cramer, Hubner, Geyer, Drury and John Abbot. The works of Clerck, Cramer, Hubner, Geyer and Drury are all illustrated, and contain figures of many of the more showy North American species. Abbot and Smith's "Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia" gives figures of a number of moths, with their larvae and food-plants. In 1841 the work of Dr. Thaddeus William Harris, entitled "A Report on the Insects of Massachusetts which are Injurious to Vegetation," was published. This was followed in 1852 by the work of A. Guenee on the Noctuelites, the Deltoides, and the Pyralites, constituting Volumes V.-VIII. of the "Species General des Lepidopteres," forming a portion of the "Suites a Buffon." Many North American species were here described for the first time, and some of them were figured in the Atlas of Plates accompanying the work. In 1850 G. A. W. Herrich- Schaeffer of Ratisbon began the publication of his " Sammlung Neuer oder Wenig Bekannter Aussereuropaischer Schmetter- linge," which, appearing in parts, was not completed until 1869. Good figures of a number of North American moths are con- tained in this important volume. In 1854 Francis Walker began the publication under the authority of the Trustees of the British Museum of his "List of the Specimens of Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum." This work, which finally grew to thirty-five volumes, the last of which appeared Books about North American Moths in 1866, contains descriptions of a multitude of moths found within the United States and Canada. Unfortunately Walker's descriptions are not always recognizable, and his classification as to families and genera was at times very careless. In 1859 Brackenridge Clemens published in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. IV., pp. 97-190, a "Synopsis of the North American Sphingides." In 1860 the Smithsonian Institution issued a "Catalogue of the Described Lepidoptera of North America," compiled by the Rev. J. G. Morris. This catalogue, which was the first to appear, is now antiquated. In 1862 the same institution published a book by the same author, entitled "A Synopsis of the Described Lepi- doptera of North America." It is almost wholly a compila- tion. The first part is devoted to the butterflies of the region. From pp. 122-314 the book is devoted to descriptions of the moths, principally extracted from the writings of Harris, Clemens, and Walker, and these are continued in the Supplement, pp. 330-350. The work is not wholly without value. This brief review of the literature issued previous to the out- break of the great Civil War in America, covers practically every- thing of importance upon the subject which had appeared up to that time. The period which has followed has been character- ized by greater activity in all scientific directions, and the prin- cipal works which have appeared upon the moths of the United States during the past forty years are herewith given in a list, which, while not by any means complete, is sufficiently full to enable the student to ascertain where to find information for the prosecution of his studies, when he shall have acquainted him- self with the contents of this volume. PERIODICALS CONTAINING MUCH INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA Bulletins of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (Division of Entomology). (Published occasionally.) Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, Vols. I-VII, 1878-1885. Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, Vols. I-IV, 1873- 1884. Canadian Entomologist, Vols. 1-XXXIV, 1869-1903, London, Ontario. (Published monthly.) Entomologica Americana, Vols. I-V, Brooklyn, 1885-1889. 38 Books about North American Moths Entomological News, Vols. I-XIII, 1890-1903, Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. (Published monthly, except July and August.) Insect Life, Vols. I-VII, Washington, 1888-1895. Journal of the New York Entomological Society, Vols. I-X, 1893-1903. (Published quarterly.) Papilio, Vols. I-III, 1881-1883, New York, Edited by Henry Edwards; Vol. IV, 1884, Philadelphia, Edited by Eugene M. Aaron. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia, Vols. I-VI, 1861-1867. (Continued as the Transactions of the American Entomo- logical Society.) Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, Vols. I-V, 1890-1903. (Published occasionally.) Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum, Washington, Vols. I-XXVI, 1878-1903. Psyche. Organ of the Cambridge Entomological Club, Cambridge, Mass., Vols. I-IX, 1877-1903. (Published bi-monthly.) Transactions of the American Entomological Society, Vols. I-XXX. 1867-1903. Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. (Published quarterly.) GENERAL CATALOGUES AND LISTS GROTE, A. R., AND List of the Lepidoptera of North America, I, ROBINSON, C. T. (Sphingidae to Bombycidae.) American Entomo- logical Society, Philadelphia, 1868. GROTE, A. R. List of the North American Platypterices, Attaci, Hemileucini, Ceratocampidee, Lachneides, Tere- dines, and Hepiali with Notes (Transactions Amer- ican Philosophical Society, 1874). GROTE, A. R. A New Check List of North American Moths, New York, 1882, pp. 1-73. BROOKLYN ENTOMO- Check List of the Macro-Lepidoptera of America, LOGICAL SOCIETY North of Mexico (Brooklyn, 1882, pp. 1-25). SMITH, JOHN B. List of the Lepidoptera of Boreal America ^Phila- delphia, American Entomological Society, 1891, pp. 1-124). KIRBY, W. F. A Synonymic Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Hetero- cera, Vol. I, Sphinges and Bombyces, London, 1892, DYAR, H. G. A List of North American Lepidoptera (Bulletin U. S. National Museum, No. 52), pp. i-xix, 1-723. GENERAL WORKS CONTAINING INFORMATION AS TO THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA COMSTOCK, J. H. A Manual for the Study of Insects, Ithaca, 1895. DRUCH, HERBERT Biologia Centrali- Americana, Insecta, Lepidoptera- Heterocera, Vols. I-II, Text; Vol. Ill, Plates, London, 1881-1900, 39 Books about North American Moths PACKARD, A. S. Guide to the Study of Insects. Numerous Editions. A Text-book of Entomology, New York, 1898. SHARP, DAVID The Cambridge Natural History: Insects, 2 Vols.; Vol. I, 1895; Vol. II, 1899. London and New York. STRECKER, HERMAN Lepidoptera, Rhopaloceres and Heteroceres, Indigenous and Exotic, with Descriptions and Colored Illustrations. Reading, Pa., 1872-1877. Three Supplements, 1898-1900. WALKER, FRANCIS List of the Lepidopterous Insects in the Collection of the British Museum. Vols. I-XXXV, London, 1854-1866. RILEY, C. V. Reports on the Noxious, Beneficial, and Other Insects of the State of Missouri. Nos. 1-9, and Index, 1869-1878. WORKS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN STUDYING THE DIP- FERENT FAMILIES OF THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA SPHINGID.* GROTE, A. R., AND A Synonymical Catalogue of North America Sphin- ROBINSON, C. T. gidae. (Proceedings Ent. Soc. Philadelphia, Vol. V, 1865, pp. 149-193.) GROTE, A. R. Catalogue of the Sphingidae of North America. (Bulletin Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sciences, 1873, pp. 17-28.) New Check List of North American Sphingidae, (Bulletin Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sciences, Vol. Ill, pp. 220-225.) CLEMENS, B. Synopsis of the North American Sphingides. (Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, Philadelphia, Vol. IV, 1859, pp. 97-190.) BOISDUVAL, J. A. Sphingides, Sesiides, Castniides. Paris, 1874. Vol. I, text; and a series of Plates in the Atlas accompanying the work, which forms a portion of the "Suites a. Buff on." BUTLER, A. G. Revision of the Heterocerous Lepidoptera of the Family Sphingidse. (Transactions Zoological Soc. London, Vol. IX, 1877, pp. 511-644, Plates XC- XCIV.) SMITH, JOHN B. An Introduction to a Classification of the North American Lepidoptera. Sphingidae. (Entomo- logica Americana, Vol. I, 1885, pp. 81-87.) List of the Sphingidae of Temperate North America. (Entomologica Americana, 1888, pp. 89-94.) A monograph of the Sphingidae of North America North of Mexico. (Transactions American Ent. Soc., Vol. XV, 1888, pp. 49-242, Twelve Plates.) 30 Books about North American Moths FERNALD, C. H. The Sphingidae of New England. Orcmo, Maine, 1886. BEUTENMULLER, W. Descriptive Catalogue of the Sphingidae Found within Fifty Miles of New York City. (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. VII, pp. 275-320.) ROTHSCHILD, HON. A Revision of the Lepidopterous Family Sphingidae. W., AND JORDAN, K. (Novitates Zoologicae, 1903.) The most complete work upon the subject as yet written. SATURNIID.E SMITH, JOHN B. A Revision of the Lepidopterous Family Saturniidae. (Proc. U. S. National Museum, Vol. IX, pp. 414- 43 7, Three Plates.) PACKARD, A. S. Synopsis of the Bombycidas of the United States. (Proc. Ent. Soc. Philadelphia, Vol. Ill, 1864, pp. 97-130 and 331-396.) NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 121-132.) GROTE, A. R. List of the North American Platypterices, Attaci, Hemileucini, Ceratocampidae, Lachneides, Tere- dines, and Hepiali, with Notes. (Proc. Am. Philos. Soc., Vol. XIV, pp. 256-264.) CERATOCAMPIDvE GROTE, A. R. List of the North American Platypterices, etc. (See Above.) NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 147-152.) SYNTOMID^; HAMPSON, G F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Vol. I, 1898. LITHOSIID^E BUTLER, A. G. On the Lepidoptera of the Family Lithosiidae, in the Collection of the British Museum. (Transac- tions Ent. Soc., London, 1877, pp. 325-377.) STRETCH, R. H. Illustrations of the Zygaenidas and Bombycidas of North America, San Francisco, 1874, pp. 242, Ten Plates. (Numerous Lithosiids are figured and described.) HAMPSON, G. F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Vol. II, 1900. ARCTIID^E HAMPSON, G. F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum, Vol. Ill, 1901. Books about North American Moths STRETCH, R. H. Illustrations of the Zygaenidae and Bombycidae of North America. (Numerous Arctiids are figured and described.) BEUTENMULLER, W. Descriptive Catalogue of the Bombycine Moths Found within Fifty Miles of New York City. (Bulletin Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. X., pp. 353- 448.) SMITH, JOHN B Preliminary Catalogue of the Arctiidae of Temperate North America. (Canadian Entomologist, 1889, pp. 169-175, 193-200, and 213-219.) The North American Species of Callimorpha Latreille. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1887, pp. 342- 353-) LYMAN, H. H. The North American Callimorphas. (Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XIX, pp. 181-191.) GROTE, A. R. Table of the Species of Euchaetes. (Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XIV, pp. 196-197.) AGARISTID^E HAMPSON, G. F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalasnae in the Collection of the British Museum, Vol. Ill, pp. 515- 663, 1901. (Consult also Stretch, Neumoegen and Dyar, and Periodicals.) NOCTUID^; 7IAMPSON, G. F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenas in the Collection of the British Museum, Vol. IV, et seq. GUENEE, A. Noctuelites. Sp6cies G6n6ral des L6pidopteres. Suites a Buff on, Vols. V-VIII. GROTE, A. R. List of the Noctuidae of North America. (Bulletin Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sciences, Vol. II, pp. 1-77.) Introduction to the Study of the North American Noctuidag. (Proc. Amer. Philos. Society, Vol. XXI, pp. 134-176.) An Illustrated Essay on the Noctuidae of North America; with "A Colony of Butterflies," London. 1882, pp. 1-85, four colored plates. Consult also the very numerous papers upon the Noctuidae published by Grote in the Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences; The Canadian Entomologist; the Bulletin of the U. S Geological Survey, Vol. VI; Papilio; and recently in the publications of the Roemer Museum at Hildesheim, Germany. Books about North American Moths SMITH, JOHN B. A Catalogue, Bibliographical and Synonymical, of the Species of Moths of the Lepidopterous Super- family Noctuidse Found in Boreal America, with Critical Notes. (Bulletin U. S. Nat. Museum, No. 44, pp. 1-424-) This is the most scholarly and complete work upon the Noctuidae of America which has up to the present time been published, and is indispensa- ble to the student. Consult also the very numerous papers by Professor Smith which have been published in the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum; the Transactions of the American Entomological Society; The Canadian Entomologist; Papilio, and other periodicals. SMITH, JOHN B., AND A Revision of the Species of Acronycta and of DYAR, H. G. Certain Allied Genera. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, Vol. XXI, pp. 1-194.) HULST, G. D. The Genus Catocala. (Bulletin Brooklyn Ent. Society, Vol. VII, pp. 13-56.) NYCTEOLID.E NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. I, p. 117.) HAMPSON, G. F. The Fauna of British India, Moths, Vol. U, pp. 365- 388. PERICOPID.* NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal of New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, p. 26.) DIOPTID^E NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal of New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, p. in.) NOTODONTID* PACKARD, A. S. Monograph of the Bombycine Moths of America, North of Mexico. Part I, Family I, Notodontidae. (Memoirs National Academy of Science, Vol. VII, pp. 1-390, Forty-nine Plates.) NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Lepidopterous DYAR, H. G. Family Notodontidae. (Transactions Am. Ent. Soc., 1894, pp. 179-208.) SCHAUS, W. A Revision of the American Notodontidae. (Trans- actions Ent. Soc. London, 1901, pp. 1:57-344, Plates XI and XII.) 33 Books about 'North American Moths THYATIRID^E GROTE, A. R. A Revision of the Species of Cytnatophorina Found in the United States and British America, with Descriptions of New Species. (Proceedings Ent. Soc. Philadelphia, Vol. II, pp. 54-59.) SMITH, JOHNS Bulletin 44, U. S. National Museum, pp. 27-29. LIPARID^E NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II j pp. 28-30 and 57-60.) LASIOCAMPID^B NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 152-160.) BOMBYCID.* HAMPSON, G. F Fauna of British India, Moths, Vol. I, pp. 31-40. PLATYPTERYGID.fi GROTE, A. R. On the North American Platypterygidae. (Trans- actions Am. Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 65-67.) List of the North American Platypterices, etc. (Proceedings Am. Philos. Soc., Vol. XIV, pp. 256— 264.) NEUMOEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 61-62.) GEOMETRID.fi PACKARD, A. S. A Monograph of the Geometrid Moths or Phalaenidae of the United States. (U. S. Geological Survey of the Territories, Vol. X, pp. 1-607 > Thirteen Plates.) HULST, G. D. -A Classification of the Geometrina of North America with Descriptions of New Genera and Species (Transactions Am. Ent. Soc., 1896, pp. 245-386.) GUMPPENBERG, C.v. Systema Geometrarum Zonae Temperatioris Sep- tentrionalis (Nova Acta der Kaiser. Leop. — Carol. Deutschen Akad. der Naturforscher, 1887-1897.) EPIPLEMID.fi HULST, G. D. Transactions American Ent. Soc., Vol. XXIII, PP- 309-310. HAMPSON, G. F. Fauna of British India, Moths, Vol. Ill, pp. 121-137 NOLID.fi HAMPSON, G. F. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the Collection of the British Museum, Vol. II, 1900. 34 Books about North American Moths LACOSOMID^E NEUMGEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc. Vol. II, p. 120.) PSYCHID.* NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. III-I20.) COCHLIDIID^E NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 64-76.) MEGALOPYGID^ NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 109-110.) DALCERIDJE NEUMCEGEN, B., AND Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XXV, p. 121. DYAR, H. G. DYAR, H. G. Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. VI, p. 232. EPIPYROPID^E DYAR, H. G. List of North American Lepidoptera, p. 359. WESTWOOD, J. O. Transactions Ent. Soc., London, 1876, p. 522. ZYG^NID^E PACKARD, A. S. Notes on the Family Zygaenidae. (Proceedings Essex Institute, Vol. IV, pp. 7-47.) GROTE, A. R. Catalogue of the Zygaenidae of North America. (Bulletin Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sciences, Vol. I, pp. 29- 36.) STRETCH, R. H. Illustrations of the Zygaenidae and Bombycidae of North America. NEUMCEGEN, B., AND Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, p. 63. (Pyro- DYAR, H. G. morphidae.) HAMPSON, G. P. On the Classification of the Thyrididae, a Family of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae. (Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1897, pp. 6o3~33-) COSSID.fi NEUMCEGEN, B., AND A Preliminary Revision of the Bombyces of America DYAR, H. G. North of Mexico. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 160-166.) Books about North American Moths BAILEY, J. S. Some of the North American Cossidae, with Facts in the Life History of Cossus centerensis Lintner. (Bulletin No. 3, Division of Entomology, U. S. Dept. Agriculture, 1883.) JEGEKUVJE BEUTENMULLER, W. Monograph of the Sesiidae of North America North of Mexico. (Memoirs of the Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. I, Part 6, pp. 2 1 7-3 5 2 ; Plates XXIX-XXXVI.) GUENEE, A. Deltoides et Pyralites. Species General des L6pi- dopteres, Vol. VIII. GROTE. A. R. Preliminary Studies on the North American Pyralidae. (Bulletin U. S. Geol. Survey of the Territories, Vol. IV, pp. 669—705.) Preliminary List of North American Species of Crambus. (Canadian Entomologist, Vol. XII, pp. 77-80.) HAMPSON, G. F. On the Classification of the Schcenobiinae and Cram- binae, Two Subfamilies of Moths of the Family Pyralidae. (Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1895, pp. 897-974-) On the Classification of Three Subfamilies of Moths of the Family Pyralidae: the Epipaschiinae, Endo- trichinae, and Pyralinae. (Transactions Ent. Soc., London, 1896, pp. 451-550.) On the Classification of the Chrysauginas, a Sub- family of Moths of the Family Pyralidae. (Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1897, pp. 633-692.) On the Classification of Two Subfamilies of Moths of the Family Pyralidae: the Hydrocampinae and Scopariinae. (Trans. Ent. Soc., London, 1897, pp. 127-240.) A Revision of the Moths of the Subfamily Pyraus- tinae and Family Pyralidae, Part I. (Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1898, pp. 590-761.) A Revision of the Moths of the Subfamily Pyraus- tinae and Family Pyralidae, Part II. (Proc. Zool. Soc., London, 1899, pp. 172-291.) HULST, G. D. . The Phycitidae of North America. (Transactions Am. Ent. Soc., 1890, pp. 93-228.) The Epipaschiinae of North America. (Entomo- logica Americana, 1889, pp. 41-52 and 61-76.) Books about North American Moths FELT, E. P On Certain Grass-eating Insects. (Bulletin No. 64, Cornell Unix7. Agric. Experiment Station, 1894, pp. 47-102, Fourteen Plates.) FERNALD, C. H. The Crambidze of North America. (Annual Report Massachusetts Agricultural College, 1896, pp. 1-96, Nine Plates.) RAGONOT, E. L. Monographic des Phycitinae et des Galleriinae. (Romanoff's "Memoires sur les Lepidopteres, Vols. VII-VIII, 1893-1902.) Volume VIII was com- pleted by Sir George F. Hampson after the death of the author. PTEROPHORID^E FERNALD, C. H. The Pterophoridae of North America. (Special Bulletin, Mass. Agricultural College, 1898, pp. 1—64, Nine Plates.) TORTRICID^E FERNALD, C. H. A Synonymical Catalogue of the Described Tor- tricidse of North America North of Mexico. (Trans- actions Am. Ent. Soc., Vol. X, pp. 1-64.) On the North American Species of Choreutis and Its Allies. (Canadian Entomologist, 1900, pp. 236- 245-) ROBINSON, C. T Notes on American Tortricidae. (Transactions Am. Ent. Soc., Vol. II, pp. 261-288, Plates I and IV-VIII.) WALSINGHAM, LORD North American Tortricidae. Illustrations of Typical Specimens of Lepidoptera Heterocera in the Collection of the British Museum, Part IV, pp. i-xii and 1-84, Plates I-XVII. ZELLER, P. C. Beitraege zur Kentniss der Nordamerikanischen Nachtf alter besonders der Microlepidopteren. (Verhandlungen d. Zool.-Bot. Gesellsch, Wien, 1873, pp. 447-556; 1873, pp. 201-334; 1875, pp. 207- 360. Treats also of Tineidae. TINEID.E, ETC. CLEMENS, B. The Tineina of North America, by the late Bracken- ridge Clemens. Being a Collected Edition of his Writings on that Group of Insects. With Notes by the Editor, H. T. Stainton, London, 1872, pp. i-xv and 1-282. CHAMBERS, V. T. Index to the Described Tineina of the United States and Canada. (Bulletin U. S. Geol. Survey of the Territories, Vol. IV, pp. 125-167.) 37 Books about North American Moths WALSINGHAM, LORD North American Coleophorae. (Transactions Ent. Soc., London, 1882, pp. 429-442, PI. XVII.) A Revision of the Genera Acrolophus Poey and Anaphora Clemens. (Transactions Ent. Soc., Lon- don, 1887, pp. 137-173, Plates VII, VIII.) Steps Toward a Revision of Chambers's Index with Notes and Descriptions of New Species. (Insect Life, Vol. I, pp. 81-84, 113-117, 145-150, 254- 258, 287-291; Vol. II, pp. 23-26, 51-54, 77-8i, 116-120, 150-155, 284-286, 322-326; Vol. Ill, pp. 325-329, 386-389; Vol. IV, pp. 385-389.) DYAR, H. G. Notes on Some North American Yponomeutidas, (Canadian Entomologist, 1900, pp. 37-41, 84-86.) BUSCK, A. New Species of Moths of the Superfamily Tineina from Florida. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XXIII, pp. 225-254.) New American Tineina. (Journal New York Ent. Soc., Vol. VIII, pp. 234-248, Plate IX.) A Revision of the American Moths of the Family Gelechiidae with Descriptions of New Species. (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XXV, pp. 767-938.) " When simple curiosity passes into the love of knowledge as such, and the gratification of the esthetic sense of the beauty of complete- ness and accuracy seems more desirable than the easy indolence of ignorance ; when the finding out of the causes of things becomes a source of joy, and he is counted happy who is successful in the search, common knowledge of Nature passes into what our forefathers called Natural History, from whence there is but a step to that which used to be termed Natural Philosophy, and now passes by the name of Physical Science." — THOMAS HENRY HUXLEY, in The Crayfish. THE MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA, NORTH OF MEXICO "The laugh at entomology is nearly spent. Known professors of the science, and members of its ' Society,' may now assemble in council and communicate their observations and inquiries without fear of becoming themselves subjects for a commission de lunatico inquirendo, and butterfly hunters, net in hand, may now chase their game without being themselves made game of." — Acketa Domestica. ORDER LEPIDOPTERA SUBORDER HETEROCERA (MOTHS) FAMILY I. THE SPHINGID/E (HAWKMOTHS) "The Sphinx is drowsy, Her wings are furled." — EMERSON. THE moths composing this family vary greatly in size. Some African species are very little more than an inch in expanse of wings. Those which occur in North America are medium-sized or large. The body is relatively very stout, the abdomen conic, cylin- dric, or flattened on the ventral surface, always protruding far beyond the hind margin of the secondaries, sometimes adorned with lateral or terminal tufts capable of expansion. The thorax is stout and often advanced beyond the insertion of the wings. The head is large and generally prominent. The eyes are often large, prominent, and generally naked, never hairy. The palpi are well, but never excessively, developed. The proboscis is generally long, some- times much longer than the body, but in a few genera among the Ambulicince greatly reduced and even obsolete. The antennae are well developed, stouter in the male FIG. 20. — Greatly than in the female sex, thickening from the magnified view of base to the middle, or in some genera to ^e under side of three joints of the nearly the end, usually hooked at the ex- antenna of P. guin- tremity, sometimes merely curved. The quemaculatus. joints of the antennae in the case of the males of some of the subfamilies are equipped at either end with pecul- iarly arranged fascicles of projecting hairs, or cilia, the arrangement 41 Sphingidae of which, as examined under the microscope, is seen to be quite different from that which prevails in any other family of moths. The accompanying illustration (Fig. 20) shows this arrange- ment in the case of the common Five-spotted Hawkmoth, (Protoparce quinquemaculatus) . The wings are small in comparison with the body. The front wings are very long in proportion to their width, and the costal veins are always very stoutly developed. The tip of the wing is usually pointed, and the margins are straight or evenly rounded, though in some genera, principally be- longing to the subfamily Ambulicinae, they have undulated or scalloped margins. The hind margin of the fore wings is always much shorter than the costal margin. The hind wings are relatively quite small. The venation of the wings is characteristic. The primaries have from eleven to twelve veins, the secondaries eight, reckoning the two internal veins, veins i a and i b, as one. Veins eight and seven are connected near the base of the wing by a short vein, or bar. The discal cell is relatively quite small in both wings. There is always a frenulum, though in the Ambulicina it is frequently merely vestigial. The general style of the venation is illustrated in Figure 21, which represents the structure of the Wi"gs Of S*si" MaluS Linn*US" The Linnaeus. hawkmoths have prodigious power of flight. A few genera are diurnal in their habits; most of them are crepuscular, flying in the dusk of evening, a few also about dawn. The larvae are usually large. There is great variety in their color, though the majority of the North American species are of some shade of green. They usually have oblique stripes on their sides, and most of them have a caudal horn, which in the last stages in some genera is transformed into a lenticular tubercle. In a few genera the anal horn is wanting. The anterior segments of the bodies of the larvae are retractile. When in motion the body is long and fusiform, but when at rest the head and the anterior segments are drawn back, the rings EXPLANATION OF PLATE II (The specimens figured are contained in the collection of W. J. Holland.) 1. Hamorrhagia thetis Boisduval, cJ1. 2. Hcemorrhagia tenuis Grote, 9 • 3. Hcemorrhagia axillaris Grote & Robinson, J1. 4. Hcemorrhagia axillaris Grote & Robinson, 9 . 5. Hcemorrhagia thy she Fabricius, J1. 6. Hcemorrhagia cimbiciformis Stephens, $ . 7. Hcemorrhagia brucei French, tf. 8. Proserpinus flavofasciata Walker, 9 . 9. Euproserpinus phaeton Grote & Robinson, J>. 10. Proserpinus darkies Boisduval, $ . 11. Pogocolon gaurce Abbot & Smith, cJ1. 12. Pogocolon fuanita Strecker, J1. 13. Xylophones tersa Linnagus, c?. 14. Celerio lineata Fabricius, cJ1. 15. Deidamia inscriptum Harris, cJ1. 1 6. Sesia titan Cramer, (J1. 17. E pis tor lugubris Linnaeus, (J1. 18. Ampkion nessus Cramer, tf. 19. Sphecodina abbotti Swainson, (J1. 20. Celerio intermedia Kirby, 9 • 21. Cautethia grotei Henry Edwards, tf. THE MOTK BOOK. Sphingidae "telescoping" into one another, and the anterior portion of the body being often raised, as illustrated in Plate I, Figure i. It is alleged that the habit of assuming this posture, suggesting a resemblance to the Egyptian Sphinx, prompted the application of the name to these creatures. The larvae are not gregarious, but feed solitarily upon their appropriate food-plants. Some forms pupate in a cell deep under the soil, others spin a loose cocoon among damp fallen leaves and pupate at the sur- face. The pupae are as remarkable as the larvae. A few genera have the proboscis enclosed in a sheath which is separate along the greater portion of its course from the adjacent wall of the body. This is illustrated in Figure 22. FIG. 22. — Pupa of Protoparce quinquemaculatus. (After Riley.) The Hawkmoths of the United States and Canada fall into five subfamilies, the Acherontiince, the Ambulicince, the Sesiince, the Philampelince, and the Chcerocampince. SUBFAMILY ACHERONTIINCE Genus HERSE Oken (i) Herse cingulata Fabricius, Plate VI, Fig. 3, $, (The Pinkspotted Hawkmoth.) Syn. convolvuli, var. Merian; affinis Goeze; drur&i Donovan; pungens Eschsholtz; decolor a Henry Edwards. This large and elegant hawkmoth, the larva of which feeds upon sweet-potato vines and various other Convolvulacece, has been confounded by writers with H. convolvuli Linnaeus, which it resembles, but from which it is abundantly distinct. The latter species is confined to the old world. H. cingulata, the only species of the genus occurring in the western hemisphere, ranges from Canada to northern Patagonia, and is also found in the Galapagos and Sandwich Islands. I have a specimen taken at sea in the Atlantic, five hundred miles from the nearest land. 43 Sphingidae It settled in the cabin of a ship and was caught by the captain of the vessel. Genus COCYTIUS Hvibner The genus Cocytius, which includes some of the largest hawkmoths which are known, contains five species, all of which are found in the tropics cf the new world. They may easily be recognized by the fact that the third joint of the labial palpi is in both sexes prolonged into a small, sharp, conical, naked horn. The larvae, which feed upon the Anonacece, are covered with fine hairs. Only one of the species is found within the faunal limits covered by the present work. It occurs in southern Florida, and in southern Texas as a straggler. (i) Cocytius antaeus Drury, Plate VI, Fig. I, $. (The Giant Sphinx.) Syn. caricce Muller (non Linnaeus); jatrophae Fabricius; hydaspui Cramer; tnedor Stoll; anotVB Shaw; lapayusa Moore. The species is somewhat variable, specimens from the Antilles being often lighter in color than those from Central America, and the continental portions of its habitat. This lighter form is accepted by Rothschild & Jordan as typical, and the darker form is called by them Cocytius anicem medor Stoll. The difference is hardly sufficiently constant to justify the separation into two subspecies. The insect ranges from Florida into southern Brazil. Genus PROTOPARCE Burmeister The head is prominent. The body is stout and heavy. The tongue in both sexes is at least as long as the body. The palpi are large, ascending, and appressed to the front, having the basal joint long, the second a little shorter, but broader, and the terminal joint minute. The eyes are large, feebly lashed. The tibiae are either without spines, or feebly armed with minute spinules. The mid tarsus is provided with a comb of long bristles. The venation of the wings is typically sphingi- form. The outer margins of the primaries are evenly rounded. There is a slight projection of the secondaries at the extremity of vein i b. The prevalent colors of the wings are shades of gray, banded and mottled with darker and lighter lines and 44 Sphingidae spots. The abdomen is generally marked on the sides by rows of yellowish spots. The larvae are cylindrical with the head rounded. The anal horn curves downward and is granulose. The prevalent colors are shades of green. The segments, from four to eleven inclusive, are marked on the sides with whitish diagonal stripes. The pupa has the tongue-case free, curved, and nearly touching the pectus. This genus, which is confined to the two Americas, includes thirty species, of which four occur within our faunal limits. (1) Protoparce sexta Johanssen, Plate IV, Fig. 2, ?. (The Tomato Sphinx.) Syn. Carolina Linnaeus; nicoiianas M£n6tri£s; lycopersici Boisduval. This is one of our commonest hawkmoths. Its larva feeds upon the potato, tomato, and other Solanacece. It ranges over the United States and is represented in Central and South America by several subspecies or local races. (2) Protoparce quinquemaculatus Haworth, Plate IV, Fig. i, ? . See also text figures 20 and 22. (The Five-spotted Hawkmoth.) Syn. celeus Hiibner; Carolina Donovan. Like the preceding species, this hawkmoth is very common. Its larva feeds upon the Solanacece and is particularly destructive to tobacco. It is familiarly known in the South as the "tobacco fly." (3) Protoparce occulta Rothschild & Jordan, Plate IV, Fig. 4, ? . (The Occult Sphinx.) This hawkmoth is found in a number of American collections confounded with P. sexta = Carolina Linnaeus. It may readily be distinguished by the different markings of the hind wings, the absence of the two rows of small white spots on the back of the abdomen, and by the small but conspicuous whitish dot at the end of the cell of the fore wing. It occurs in Texas and Arizona and ranges southward to Central America. Its larval habits are not known. (4) Protoparce rustica Fabricius, Plate VII, Fig. 5, $ . (The Rustic Sphinx.) Syn. chionanthi Abbot & Smith. , The caterpillar of this hawkmoth feeds upon the fringe-bush 45 Sphingidae ( Chionanthus) and the jasmine. It is a common species in the southern States and Central America, but is only occasionally found in the northern States. I have not infrequently taken specimens in southern Indiana, and it is now and then captured in Pennsylvania and even in New England. Genus CHL^ENOGRAMMA Smith This genus, which is very closely allied to the preceding, may be distinguished from it by the fact that the comb of long bristles of the mid tarsus, which is characteristic of Protoparce, is wanting or reduced to at most one or two bristles. Pulvillus and paronychium present. The eyes are smaller than in Protoparce, and are not lashed. There are two species in the genus, one South American, the other found in the eastern portion of the United States. (i) Chlaenogramma jasminearum Guerin, Plate VII, Fig. 6, ? . (The Ash Sphinx.) Syn. rotundata Rothschild. The larva of this hawkmoth feeds upon the various species of ash (Fraxinus). It is found in the middle Atlantic States and southward, and ranges as far west as the Mississippi. Genus DOLBA Walker Head small; eyes small and lashed. The antennae are fusiform with a short abrupt hook at the tip. The tibiae are not spinose. The mid tarsus has a comb. The genus, which contains but a single species, is differenti- ated from all those in which the eyes are lashed by the non- spinose tibiae. (i) Dolba hylaeus Drury, Plate VI, Fig. 4, ? . (The Papaw Sphinx.) This small, but neatly colored hawkmoth, may readily be distinguished by the figure given in our plate. Its larva, which is green, marked with lateral oblique red bands, commonly feeds upon the papaw, ( ' Asimina triloba), and is generally abundant where that plant is common, as in the Valley of the Ohio. It is also said to feed upon Prinos. It ranges from Canada to the Gulf States and westward to Iowa and Missouri. Sphingidae Genus ISOGRAMMA Rothschild & Jordan This genus has been erected by Rothschild & Jordan for the reception of the single species which we figure. The learned authors say: "In the shortness of the fore tibia and first segment of the fore tarsus the only species of this genus agrees with the species of Ceratomia, and in the preservation of the pulvillus with CHtenogramma, while it differs from both genera in the fore tibia and the extreme apex of the mid tibia being armed with spines. The spinosity of the tibia is an advanced character, not acquired by Ceratomia, while the pulvillus is an ancestral structure already lost in Ceratomia." (i) Isogramma hageni Grote, Plate IV, Fig. 8, $ . (Hagen's Sphinx.) This obscurely colored hawkmoth, which is liable to be confounded with some of the species of Ceratomia, which it superficially resembles, may be distinguished at a glance by the slightly greenish shade of the primaries and by the absence of the dark-brown border of the hind wings, which is charac- teristic of all the species of Ceratomia. It occurs in Texas. Genus CERATOMIA Harris The tongue is reduced in size. The palpi are small. The eyes are small. The tibiae are unarmed. There is no comb of bristles on the mid tarsus, the pulvillus is absent, the paronychium is present. The primaries are relatively large with evenly rounded outer margin. The secondaries are slightly pro- duced at the end of vein i b. The species have dissimilar larvae. In the case of amyntor the larva has four horn-like projections on the thoracic seg- ments; in the case of the other two species of the genus the larvae are distinctly and normally sphingiform. The tongue-case of the pupa is not projecting. (i) Ceratomia amyntor Hiibner, Plate IV, Fig. 6, $. (The Four-horned Sphinx.) Syn. quadricornis Harris; ulmi Henry Edwards. This common hawkmoth, which may be easily recognized by our figure, lives in the larval state upon the elm. It ranges from Canada to the Carolinas and westward through the Mississippi Valley, wherever its food-plant is found. 47 Sphingidae (2) Ceratomia undulosa Walker, Plate VI, Fig. 7, ? , (The Waved Sphinx.) Syn. repentinus Clemens; brontes Boisduval (non Drury). This hawkmoth, which may easily be separated from its congeners by its lighter color and the distinct wavy maculation of the fore wings, lives in the larval stage upon the ash and the privet. It ranges from Maine and Canada to the Carolinas and westward into the trans-Mississippi region east of the great plains. (3) Ceratomia catalpae Boisduval, Plate IV, Fig. 7, ? . (The Catalpa Sphinx.) The larva feeds upon various species of catalpa, and has in recent years been charged with doing considerable damage to these trees by denuding them of their foliage. The insect ranges from New Jersey and southern Pennsylvania southward to Florida and westward through the Mississippi Valley, wherever its food-plant occurs. Genus ISOPARCE Rothschild & Jordan Tongue short and weak. Palpi small. Tibiae without spines. The first protarsal segment is short. Hind tibia armed with long spurs. Comb on mid tarsus wanting ; pulvillus wanting. Paronychium without lobes. Veins 6 and 7 of the hind wing on a long stalk. (i) Isoparce cupressi Boisduval. (The Cypress Sphinx.) The insect is of an almost uniform brown color on the upper surface of the wings, and may be distinguished from other species by the two con- spicuous parallel dark markings on the limbal area of the fore wings. It is extremely rare in collections, only FIG. 23.— Isoparce cupressi three or four specimens being as yet Boisduval. known. It has been reported from Georgia and Florida. Genus DICTYOSOMA Rothschild & Jordan This genus has been erected by Messrs. Rothschild & Jordan for the reception of the single species originally described by Strecker as Sphinx elsa. 48 EXPLANATION OP PLATE III (When not otherwise indicated the specimens figured are contained in the collection of W. J. Holland.) 1. Pholus vitis Linnaeus, cJ1. 2. Pholus fasciatus Sulzer, cJ1. 3. Darapsa pholus Cramer, «tfa wings are whitish. It is as yet a rare pallidior , ? . f insect in collections, and has only been recorded from Cocoanut Grove, in Dade County, Florida. Genus LEXIS Wallengren The genus Lexis is of moderate size, all of the species referred to it, with the single exception of the one figured on our plate, being inhabitants of the Old World. The metropolis of the genus appears to be southern Asia and the adjacent islands. One species is recorded from Australia, and the species, which is the type of the genus, is found in East Africa. (i) Lexis bicolor Grote, Plate XIII, Fig. 29, $. (The Yellow-edged Lexis). Syn. argillacea Packard. The moth is pale slaty-grey, with the head, patagia, and anal tuft yellow. The fore wings are bordered on the costa 105 Lithosiidae with pale yellow, the band of this color running out to nothing before it quite reaches the apex. The specimen figured on the plate came from Colorado. It is also said to occur in Canada and the northern portions of the United States. Genus HYPOPREPIA Hubner A small genus of North American moths, all the species of which occur within the territory covered by this book. The insects closely resemble each other, and the student who has learned to recognize one of them cannot fail to refer the others correctly to their genus. It is not, however, so easy to discrimi- nate the species. The following little key, which is taken from Hampson's Catalogue, Vol. II, page 515, may help the student in making correct specific references : 1 . Ground-color of the fore wing wholly scarlet miniaia 2. Ground-color of the fore wing yellow and crimson fucosa 3. Ground-color of the fore and hind wings yellow cadaverosa 4. Ground-color of the fore wing fuscous brown, of the hind wing whitish inculta (1) Hypoprepia miniata Kirby, Plate XIII, Fig. 41, $. (The Scarlet-winged Lichen-moth.) Syn. viitata Harris; subornata Neumoegen & Dyar. This rather common insect ranges from Canada to the Carolinas and westward in the region of the Great Lakes to Minnesota. It comes freely, as do all the species of the genus, to light, and I have found it very abundant at times about the lamps in the village of Saratoga, New York. I have taken it at Asheville, North Carolina, and at the White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia, but have never received specimens from low altitudes on the Virginian and Carolinian coasts. (2) Hypoprepia fucosa Hubner, Plate XIII, Fig. 42, $ . (The Painted Lichen-moth.) Syn . tricolor Fitch ; plumbea Henry Edwards. This species, which may be easily distinguished from the ^ i preceding by the fact that the FIG. 50. — Hypoprepia fucosa, 0 • T- f. ° v. (After Hampson.) tip of the abdomen is not marked by a dark fuscous spot, and by the narrower marginal band of the secondaries, 106 Lithosiidae as well as by the difference in the color of the wings, is a com- mon species in the Atlantic States, and ranges westward into the basin of the Mississippi. Genus H^EMATOMIS Hampson This little genus includes, so far as is now known, but two species, both of which are Mexican, but one of which ranges into southern Arizona. The species are separated as follows by Hampson : Fore wing with yellowish streaks, on costa, through cell, and . . . .mextcana . . , .uniformis Fig. 34, $ • FIG. 51. — H&matomismexicana, $ (After Hampson.) on inner margin 2. Fore wing with pale streak on the costa only (i) Haematomis mexicana Druce, Plate XIII (The Mexican Lichen- moth.) With the help of the illus- trations we have given the student should have no great difficulty in identifying this little moth. Genus COMACLA Walker This genus is represented in our fauna by two species. One other occurs in Europe and northern Asia, and another in tropical Africa. The two American species are very much alike in appearance, and it is difficult to distinguish worn or rubbed specimens. The following key will be of some assistance: i. Wings pale mouse gray, translucent; collar and abdomen ochreous; apex of fore wings rounded simplex Walker 2. Wings and body uniformly pale mouse gray, wings trans- lucent only about the mid- dle, sprinkled with blackish scales and marked by an obscure discal dot, apex of fore wings less rounded and ' more nearly square than in FIG. 52. — Comacla simplex, $ (After Hampson.) preceding species.} uscipes Grote (i) Comacla simplex Walker, Plate XIII, Fig. 34, $ . (The Mouse-colored Lichen-moth.) Syn. murina Walker; clarus Grote & Robinson; texana French. 107 Lithosiidae The species is common in Texas. C. fuscipes occurs in Arizona. Genus BRUCEIA Neumcegen One species is reckoned in this genus, the structural char- acters of which are well shown in the cut we give. (i) Bruceia pulverina Neumoegen, Plate XIII, Fig. 33, $ . (The Powdered Lichen-moth.) Syn. hubbardi Dyar. The insect named hub- FIG. 53. — Bruceia pulverina, S . (After Hampson.) bardi by Dyar seems to be only a smaller form of B. pulverina. Genus CLEMENSIA Packard To this genus Sir George F. Hampson refers a dozen species. All of these are inhabitants of the hot lands of America, except the species we figure. Cisthene lactea Stretch is by Hampson referred to the genus ttlice. Dr. Dyar places it in the genus Clemensia. The species is unknown to the writer, and does not exist in any collection which he has examined, so that we shall not attempt to discuss the vexed question of its proper location. (i) Clemensia albata Pack- ard, Plate XIII, Fig. 38, <$. (The Little White Lichen-moth.) Syn. albida Walker ; cana Walker ; umbrata Packard ; irrorata Henry Edwards ; patella Druce ; philodina Druce. The insect ranges from New England to Mexico and westward to the Pacific coast. Genus ILLICE Walker This is a moderately large genus comprising nearly thirty species, the most of which are found in tropical America. It has been subdivided into three sections, or subgenera, by Hampson. In the second section, equivalent to O^onadia, a genus erected by Dyar, are placed those species, in which 108 FIG. 54. — Clemensia albata, $ . (After Hampson.) EXPLANATION OF PLATE XIII (Unless otherwise indicated, the specimens figured are contained in the collection of W. J. Holland.) 1. Cosmosoma auge Linnseus, c?1. 2. Syntomeida epilais Walker, tf. 3. Syntomeida ipomece Harris, 9 • 23 4. Triprocris rata Henry Edwards, 24 cJ1- 25 5. Triprocris latercula Henry Ed- 36 wards, d> , U. S. N. M. 6. Pseudomya minima Grote, c? , 27 U. S. N. M. 28 7. Didasysbelce Grote, cMJ.S.N.M. 29 8. Didasys belce Grote, 9 . 30 9. Horama texa na Grote, (?. 31 10. Eucereon confine Herrich- Schaeffer, 9 , U. S. N. M. 32 11. Lymire edwardsi Grote, 9- 33 12. Scepsis fulvicollis Hiibner, 9- 13. Scepsis wrighti Stretch, c?, 34 type. 35 14. Lycomorpha grotei Packard , 9- 36 15. Lycomorpha pholus Drury, tf. 1 6. Triprocris constans Henry Ed- 37 wards, c?- 38 17. Lycomorpha fulgens Henry Ed- wards, 9 . 39 1 8. Ctenucha virginica Charpentier, 40 9- 19. Ctenucha multif aria Walker, 9 , 41 U. S. N. M. 42 20. Ctenucha venosa Walker, tf. 43 21. Ctenucha cressonana Grote, J1. 44 45. Kodiosoma fulva . Ctenucha rubroscapus Menetries, 9 , U. S. N. M. . Dahana atripennis, Grote, c?. . Nola ovilla, Grote (J1 . . Celama triquetrana Fitch, (J1. . Celama pustulata Walker, <5\ U. S. N. M. . Rceselia fuscula Grote, 9 • . Ptychoglene phrada Druce, tf . . Lexis bicolor Grote, tf. . Crambidia casta Sanborn, tf. . Crambidia allegheniensis Hol- land, c?. . Nigetia formosalis Walker, J1 . . Bruceia pulverina Neumoegen, tf. . Comacla simplex Walker, cJ1 . . Illice subjecta Walker, cT . . Illice unifascia Grote & Robin- son, (J1. . Illice nexa Boisduval, (J1. . Clemensia albata Packard , c^ • U. S. N. M. . H&matomis mexicana Druce, c? . . Pygoctenucha funerea Grote, 9 , Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila. . Hypoprepia miniata Kirby, 9 • . Hypoprepia fucosa Hiibner, $. . Kodiosoma eavesi Stretch, tf . . Kodiosoma tricolor Stretch, c?. Stretch, 39 Agaristidae The life-history of this species has been given by Dyar, i. c., p. 258. The food-plants are Eugenia buxifolia, Eugenia pro- cera, and Psidium pyrifera. The insect has a wide range in tropical America, occurring from Florida to southern Brazil. Genus BERTHOLDIA Schaus A small neotropical genus represented in our fauna by one species. (i) Bertholdia trigona Grote, Plate XIV, Fig. 2, $. (Grote's Bertholdia.) The moth flies in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and north- ern Mexico. FAMILY AGARISTID/E "Ye lovers of marvel and fairy lore, Say not that the days of enchantment are o'er, That the well-springs of Fancy and Fable fail. There are streamlets yet where the river-sprite With his Harlequin changes bewilders the sight; There are castles yet of ivory and gold, Hung with floral fabrics by sunshine unroll'd, Within whose luxurious recesses recline Fays of exquisite form, quaffing exquisite wine; Some in gossamer veiled of ethereal dyes, Which have only their match in the rainbow'd skies; Some in richest and softest of velvets arrayed, Or in mail that does shame to the armourer's trade. These are haunting us ever for ill, or for good, Through earth and through air, field, forest, and flood: To transport our thoughts, as by magic spell, From the sordid objects whereon they dwell, To a land of the Marvellous dimly displayed, Where the light-winged Fancy, by wonder stayed, Still delighteth to hover, and joyously say: 'Oh! my darling elves, ye're not chased away, There's a region still where ye have a place — The mysterious world of the Insect race.'" ACHETA DOMESTICA. Episodes of Insect Life. The Agaristidas compose a family of moderate size. The moths are day-flying in their habit, and in the tropics both 140 EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVII (Except when otherwise indicated, the specimens figured are con- tained in the collection of W. J. Holland.) 1. Haploa militaris Harris, $. 2. Haploa colona Hubner, 9 • 3. Haploa vestalis Packard, <5\ 4. Haploa militaris Harris, c?. 5. Haploa consita Walker, tf . 6. Haploa confusa Lyman, cJ1. 7. Haploa clymene Brown, J1. 8. Utetheisa ornatrix Linnaeus, <5\ 9. Haploa dyari Merrick, cT, Merrick Collection. 10. Haploa militaris Harris,