GENUS. SPILOSOMA, _Steph._ Arctia, _Latr._ Eyprepia, p. _Ochs._ Phalæna
(Noctua), _Drury_.
SPILOSOMA ARGE. Alis albidis, nigro-maculatis et lineatis, posticis
incarnatis lineâ marginali fulvâ; abdomine concolori maculis nigris.
(Expans. Alar. 1 unc. 9 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Noctua) Arge, _Drury, App. v._ 2. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 5. 92.
232.
Bombyx Dione, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 442. _No._ 106. _Abbot and
Smith, Ins. Georg. t._ 63.
HABITAT: New York; taken on the 20th day of May.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ filiform, and cream-coloured at the base, but black
at their extremities. The tongue is small, and curled up. The neck red,
having two small black streaks above it. The thorax and abdomen
cream-coloured. On the former are three black streaks. On each annulus of
the abdomen is a black spot, and another on each side. Anterior wings
cream-coloured, with many black spots and marks thereon, of different
forms and sizes, and varying very greatly in different specimens. The
{34}anterior margin red. Posterior wings almost transparent, dirty
cream-coloured, tinged with red, whereon are many oblong sooty spots.
Ciliæ cream-coloured, within which is a narrow red line.
_Under Side._ The colours are more faint and dirty than those on the
upper. Anterior femora red, with two black spots thereon, close to the
head. Tarsi black and cream-coloured.
The caterpillar of this insect is brown, with five pale longitudinal lines,
and with long hairs arising from fulvous tubercles. It feeds, according to
Abbot, upon plantain, corn, peas, and many other plants. A specimen
observed by this author was hatched on the 23d of July, spun up on the 28th
of August, and the moth appeared on the 9th of September. It is said
occasionally to make great devastation among Indian corn. Sir J. E. Smith
ascertained the specific identity of this insect from Dr. Hunter's Museum,
examined by Fabricius, who has neglected to cite Drury's figure.