PLATE XXIV.

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ACTIAS LUNA.

Plate XXIV. fig. 1.

Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: BombycidÆ.

Genus. Actias, Leach. Saturnia, Schrank. Attacus, Germar. PhalÆna (Attacus), Linn.

Actias Luna. Alis caudatis flavo-virentibus concoloribus, ocello disci lunato, margine antico anticarum purpureo. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc. 6 lin.)

Syn. PhalÆna (Attacus) Luna, Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 810. No. 5. Catesby Carolina, 2nd vol. p. 85. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 414. No. 22. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2404. 5. Abbot & Smith Ins. Georgia, pl. 48. Oliv. Enc. MÉth. 5. 29. 20. Pal. Beauv. Ins. Afr. & Am. Lep. pl. 22. f. 3. Leach Zool. Misc. v. 2. (Actias L.)

Habitat: New York, Carolina, Virginia, Maryland.

Upper Side. AntennÆ brown, and strongly pectinated. The head white, small, and almost hid under the shoulders and neck, having a small brown ring encircling it. Thorax pale yellow, having a chocolate or dark brown line crossing it, parallel with the margins of the anterior wings. All the wings are of a beautiful pea-green colour; the nerves being of a pale red brown. Along the anterior margin of the anterior wings runs a chocolate line, which is narrowed towards the tips. About an inch from the shoulders springs from this line a small curved one, which, bending towards the middle of the wing, terminates in a small eye, pointed in the lower part, whose pupil is transparent like glass; the iris being partly red and partly black, within which are semicircles of white; external margin of the wings, red brown; the posterior being white. Posterior wings furnished with two broad tails, which, at their extremities, appear as if they were crimped; their external edges being red brown. In the middle of each of these wings is likewise an eye, similar to, but rather larger than those in the anterior ones. Abdomen white.

Under Side. Abdomen white, the sides being of a dark clay colour. All the wings are of the same colour as on the upper side; the nerves being browner and more conspicuous, without the brown edge on the anterior pair; the eyes themselves are the same as on that side. The anterior margin of the inferior wings is white, and the eyes strongly resemble those of an animal having them half shut.

Drury's correspondent informed him that the caterpillar of this handsome moth is red, and feeds on the leaves of the sassafras tree. When they are full-fed they inclose themselves in a strong case composed of the substance of the tree, and a glutinous matter which they secrete. They appear in June and August. The caterpillar, however, figured by Abbot is green, with short hairs scattered over the body, and with about eight small red spots on each segment, placed transversely. This author also states that it feeds upon the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua, Linn.), different kinds of walnut, and the Persimon (Diospyros Virginiana). One of them spun up on the 31st of May, and came out on the 8th of June; another on the 23rd of June, and came out on the 10th of July; and a third, which did not spin up until the 6th of September, remained in the chrysalis till the 3rd of March. It continues breeding throughout the summer, but is not very plentiful.

DEIOPEIA ORNATRIX.

Plate XXIV. fig. 2.

Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: LithosiidÆ.

Genus. Deiopeia, Stephens. Euchelia, Boisduval. Eyprepia p. Ochs.

Deiopeia Ornatrix. Alis convolutis albidis, anticarum margine rubro atropunctato, posticis albo nigroque variis. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)

Syn. PhalÆna (Noctua) ornatrix, Linn. S. N. 2. 839. No. 110.

Bombyx ornatrix, Fab. Ent. Syst. III. 1. p. 480. No. 225. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2444. 110. Oliv. Enc. MÉth. 5. 100. No. 258.

Habitat: Antigua (Drury). America (Linn. Fabr.).

Upper Side. AntennÆ black, filiform. Head with a black frontal spot; tongue spiral. Thorax flesh-coloured, with small black spots. Anterior wings fine flesh-coloured; the anterior edges being bordered with scarlet, except four small white places, in each of which is a small black spot; near the base is a red cordate spot, with a small black one above it; near the external margin is a row of small black spots; above this is a row of red ones, nearly joining together, and nearly united to the red border at the anterior edge, and above this is another row of black ones. Posterior wings clear white, their external edges with large angular spots of black, one of them running to the anterior edge.

Under Side. Anterior wings fine deep scarlet, but next the shoulders white, as is the cilia, where, joining to it, is a row of very small black spots; a little above this is a black irregular line, running from the anterior edge to the lower angle; above this line is another, shorter, reaching half way across the wings. Posterior wings clear white, spotted with the same black angular spots, as on the upper side; the anterior edges being of the same scarlet colour as the superior wings.

DEIOPEIA BELLA.

Plate XXIV. fig. 3.

Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: LithosiidÆ.

Genus. Deiopeia, Stephens. Euchelia. Boisduval. Eyprepia p. Ochs.

Deiopeia Bella. Alis anticis albidis, fasciis sex punctorum nigrorum fasciis fulvis divisis; posticis rubris apice nigris. (Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)

Syn. PhalÆna (Tinea) bella, Linn. S. N. 2. 884. No. 348. Fabr. Ent. Syst. III. 1. 479. No. 223. Gmel. Linn. S. N. 2447. 348. Oliv. Enc. MÉth. 5. 99. 256.

Habitat: New York.

Upper Side. AntennÆ black and filiform. Head with a small black spot between the antennÆ. Thorax and abdomen white; on the former are several small black spots. Anterior wings of a fine yellow, with several white, narrow, irregular bars crossing them; having on each several small black spots; cilia white, and above it is a row of small black spots that almost joins it. Posterior wings faint scarlet, externally edged with a narrow black border; cilia white.

Under Side. The anterior wings fine scarlet, inclining along the anterior edge to yellow; where are several angular black spots, each lengthening as it approaches the tips; along the external margin is a row of small black spots. Posterior wings scarlet, edged with the same black border as on the upper side; on the anterior edge are two white spots, with black ones in their centres.

In the 'Systema NaturÆ' this and the preceding most nearly allied species were placed far apart in the genera Noctua and Tinea. This species appears in May and August. The caterpillar is of the same colours as the anterior wing of the moth, and feeds on the blue lupine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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