Genus LEUCULODES Dyar FIG. 186. —Leuculodes lacteolaria, . 1. The genus is thus far represented in our fauna by but a single species, to which Hulst applied the specific name lacteolaria. It is a native of Arizona. The figure which is herewith given was drawn by the writer from the type which is preserved in the United States National Museum. MOTH-SONG "What dost thou here, Thou dusky courtier, Within the pinky palace of the rose? Here is no bed for thee, No honeyed spicery,— But for the golden bee, And the gay wind, and me, Its sweetness grows. Haste, thou art late! Its soft, purple coverlet ; Moth, art thou sped? -Dim as a ghost he flies Thorough the night mysteries." ELLEN MACKAY HUTCHINSON CORTISsoz. FAMILY LASIOCAMPIDÆ "Now busily convened upon the bud That crowns the genial branch, they feast sublime, And spread their muslin canopy around, Pavilioned richer than the proudest kings." The Lasiocampida have been characterized as follows by Sir George F. Hampson, in "The Moths of India," Vol. I, p. 402: "Moths mostly of large size. Palpi porrect and generally large. Proboscis absent; eyes small; antennæ bipectinate in both sexes; legs generally with minute terminal pairs of spurs to mid and hind tibiæ and rather hairy. Fore wing with vein 1a not forked with b; 1c rarely present; the cell medial in position; veins 6 and 7 from the angle; veins 9 and 10 always stalked and from before the angle. Hind wing with two internal veins; 6 and 7 arising very near the base; 8 curved and almost touching 7, or connected with it by a bar, thus forming a precostal cell; accessory costal veinlets generally present. Frenulum absent. Larva with lateral downwardly-directed tufts of hair, and often subdorsal tufts or dorsal humps on anterior somites thickly clothed with hair. Cocoon closely woven of silk and hair." Seven genera belonging to the family are recognized as occurring within our faunal limits. Genus GLOVERIA Packard (1) Gloveria arizonensis Packard, Plate XLI, Fig. 3, 9. Syn. dentata Henry Edwards. The moth is found in Arizona and northern Mexico. (2) Gloveria psidii Sallé, Plate XLI, Fig. 2, 3 . The habitat of the species is the same as that of the foregoing. (3) Gloveria howardi Dyar, Plate XLI, Fig. 1, Q. The specimen figured on the plate is one of several which are contained in the collection of the United States National Museum, and which constituted the material upon which the original description of the species was based by Dr. Dyar. Genus ARTACE Walker (1) Artace punctistriga Walker, Plate XII, Fig. 5, 3. Syn. rubripalpis Felder. This rather rare little moth has its habitat in the southern Atlantic States. Genus TOLYPE Hübner Five species are accounted as belonging to this genus. We give illustrations of the one which is commonest. (1) Tolype velleda Stoll, Plate XI, Fig. 7, 8, Fig. 8, 9. The species is found throughout the Appalachian subregion. Genus HYPOPACHA Neumogen & Dyar The only species known to belong to this genus was named grisea by Neumogen. The only specimen of which the writer has knowledge is the type which is contained in the collection of the Brooklyn Institute. Of this I have, through the kindness of the authorities of that institution, been permitted to make a drawing, which is reproduced in the annexed cut. The habitat FIG. 187.-H. grisea, .. of the species is Arizona. Genus MALACOSOMA Hübner (1) Malacosoma americana Fabricius, Plate X, Fig. 12, 9. Syn. decipiens Walker; frutetorum Boisduval. The species, which is commonly known as "The American Tent-caterpillar," is widely distributed throughout the Appalachian subregion, and at times inflicts considerable injury upon the foliage of trees. It especially affects trees belonging to the Rosacea, as the wild cherry and wild plum, and attacks apple-orchards with avidity. The great white webs woven by the caterpillars are familiar objects in the rural landscape, detested by the fruitgrower, and equally despised by the man who loves to see trees in perfect leaf. An orchard cobwebbed by the tent-caterpil lar is not pleasant to contemplate. The best way to combat these destructive insects is to diligently search for their webs when they first are being formed, and to cut off the branches to which they are attached and burn them. By following this method carefully, their ravages may be held in check. (2) Malacosoma Packard, californica Plate X, Fig. 11, 3. The species, which is in its habits very closely allied to the preceding, has its home FIG. 189.M. disstria, larva. (After Riley.) FIG. 188.-M. americana. a, lateral view of larva; b, dorsal view of larva; c, mass of eggs; d, cocoon. (After Riley.) upon the Pacific coast. (3) Malacosoma disstria Hübner, Plate X, Fig. 9, ; form erosa Stretch, Plate X, Fig. 10, 8. Syn. sylvatica Harris; drupacearum Boisduval; thoracicoides Neumogen & Dyar; sylvaticoides Neumoegen & Dyar; thoracica Stretch; perversa Neumogen & Dyar. The moth is universally distributed through the United States and Canada. It appears to be rather variable, and a number of subspecies or varietal forms have been recognized. Many of the races, if such they can be called, differ so little from the typical stock that it hardly appears worth while to regard the names which have been applied to them as other than synonyms. The habits of the larvæ are almost identical with those of the species to which reference has already been made. Like them, they prefer to attack the Rosacea, although they also at times feed upon other trees. The hickories of various species and the walnuts are not exempt from their ravages. The writer has never observed them feeding upon oaks, birch, or beeches. An excellent account of the habits of these creatures may be found in Riley's Missouri Reports, Number III, from which the illustrations here given have been taken. The means of holding the insects in α b FIG. 190.-M. disstria. d a, egg mass; b, moth; c, egg viewed from top; d, eggs viewed from side; c, d, magnified. (After Riley.) check are the same which have been recommended in the case of M. americana. Genus HETEROPACHA Harvey (1) Heteropacha rileyana Harvey, Plate VIII, Fig. 7 9. The moth is not uncommon in the Valley of the Mississippi, ranging from western Pennsylvania to Kansas and Missouri, and southward into Texas. Genus EPICNAPTERA Rambur (1) Epicnaptera americana Harris, Plate XLI, Fig. 19, 8, Fig. 20, . Syn. occidentis Walker; carpinifolia Boisduval. There are a number of color forms of this insect which have received names, and which appear to be local races of some measure of stability in the regions where they occur. We have given in our plate the form which is common in the Mississippi Valley. The specimens figured were bred from larvæ reared by Mr. Tallant at Columbus, Ohio. The Baron was an entomologist. Both the Fontenettes thought we should be fascinated with the beauty of some of his cases of moths and butterflies." G. W. CABLE |