LIBRARY

LEPIDOPTERA 477
and plains areas and reaching its maximum development in North and South
America. The caterpillars often appear in countless numbers and march in
great armies; hence the name armyworms. The common cosmopolitan armyworm,
Leucania unipuncta (Haworth), the widespread greasy cutworm, Euxoa
ypsiloJZ (Rottemburg), the variegated cutworm, Lycophotia margaritosa (Haworth),
and the Australian Bugang, Euxoa z'njusca (Boisduval), are four such
species. The caterpillars of the last are eaten by the Bushmen, and the adults
may be encountered at sea (Tillyard, J.926).
The cosmopolitan genera include H eliothis Ochsenheimer (Chloridea Duncan),
Hadella Schrank, and Leucanz"a Hubner (Cirphis Walker). The remarkable
whistling moth, Hectasia fenestrata Boisduval, and two related species of
Australia have a large crescent-shaped ribbed membranous area on each fore
wing which produces a whistling sound in flight. Though formerly placed in
the NOCTUIDlE, they are now grouped in the family AGARISTIDlE.
Family NOTODONTIDlE Stephens 1829 (No'to-don'ti-dre, from the Greek
))W1'O)), back, + Mous, (80)11'0'), tooth; in reference to the tufts on the
wings and the tooth-like prominences on the backs of the caterpillars).
Prominents, Puss Moths.
Medium-sized to large, somber-colored gray or brown moths which are noc·
turnal and somewhat resemble the noctuids. The wings and bodies are well
clothed with scales and hairs. Proboscis
present and distinct, vestigial, or absent.
Antennre usually simple, or pectinate in the
males. Maxillary palpi absent. Hind femora
with long hairs; tarsi no longer than the
tibite. Wings fully scaled; some with backward-projecting
tufts on the hind margins
which protrude when the wings are folded.
These, with the large tubercles and processes
on the backs of the larvre, are responsible for
the scientific name. Cu vein trifid and areoles
often present in the fore wings; hind wings
with veins 7 and 8 uniting near the middle of
the cell; 5 is vestigial, lC absent, Sc and R
separate. The abdomen is quite hairy and is
with or without an anal tuft. Eggs rounded,
pale, laid singly or in small or large masses
on the host plants. The larvre cylindrical;
naked or tubercuIate and hairy; labial notch
deep and acute; four median prolegs usually
FlG. 154. Adult of the i'rmyWOt'Ill,
arphis unipunct(l (Haworth). (F:rom
Insects of Western North America.)
present, the anal pair being vestigial, modified, or absent; true legs rarely
greatly lengthened and held forwards in repose; body with dorsal humps,
tubercules, tentacles, and spines giving a grotesque appearance; often brightly
colored and striped; gregarious; some are attached only by the median prolegs