LIBRARY

LEPIDOPTERA 475
foliage upon which they feed. The predacious Eublemma amnbilis Moore feed.,
upon the lac insect, Laccifer lacea (Kerr), in India and is a pest of considerable
importance to the lac industry.
Family NOCTUIDJE 1 Stepbens 1829 (Noc-tu/i-dre, from the Latin nociua, a
night owl; in reference to the crepuscular and nocturnal habits of the
larvre and adults). German, Eulen. French, Noctuides. Millers, Noctuids.
Medium-sized to large; mostly somber, cryptic, or modestly colored, a few
brilliant. Short and robust, scaly and hairy; crepuscular, nocturnal. and less
often diurnal moths. Head small. Eyes large, :smooth or hairy. Two ocelli
present except in rare cases. Proboscis well developed or rarely absent. Maxillre
long and stout in most species. Maxillary palpi absent. Labial palpi variable;
normal to long and prominent; ascending or porrect. Antennre long, usually
simple, hairy, serrate or sometimes pectinate in the males. Thorax large; dorsal
scales often in tufts. Legs well formed; tibire spurred and with or without spine:s.
Wings strong and with closely appressed scales forming intricate and
beautiful patterns. Frenulum present. Fore wings with areole; Sc free at base
and shortly fusing with R; M2 may be reduced or absent. Hind wings usually
paler than fore pair and, in certain species of so-called underwing moths,
brightly colored, generally in
shades of yellow, orange, buff,
pink, and red; usually wider
than fore wings; Ie absent; Sc
and R converging to a point.
Abdomen usually tapering anteriorly;
hairy; and frequently
with apical tufts.
The eggs are normally globular
or somewhat flattened with Fw. 152. Eggs of the corn earworxn, Heliothis armidorsal
operculum and often ra- gerll (HUbner).
diating strire; pale, dull, or green; la\d in scattered c1uster:s or in great masses
by hundreds or even thousands on the host plants or in the habitat of the larvre.
The larvre, commonly known as armyworms and cutworms, are uaually
cylindrical and naked but a few are pubescent or hairy (Acronicta); dull,
cryptic, or variously marked and striped and some striking in appearance;
head large; prothoracic pre:spiracular tubercle with two setre; mesothoracic
tubercle VII with a single seta; thoracic legs well developed; normally five
pairs of pro legs and usually a pair on segment VI; crochets in two rom. The
habits are variable, but as a group they are herbivorous, and a great many
species are notorious pests of agricultural crops. Feeding is largely at night
1 Members of this and other related families have been variously known as NOCTU..E
Linnreus 1758; NOCTURNI Latreille 1802, NOCTUlELITJE Latr. 1809, NOCTUlDES.
EREBIDA, NOCTUIDA Leaeh 1815, NOCTUADJE Lea