125
TAB. LXIIL
P H A L Ü N A DIONE .
S T R E A K E D A M E R I C A N T I G E R M O T H .
p l A n t a g o M a j o r , l i n n -.
G R E A T E R P L A N T A IN .
F h . Bombyx elingiiis. alls deflesis atris: riVulis dilatatis nibi'cuhdis ; pofticis incamalia
Digro macoiaHs lineâ marginali fulvA
Phalæna Arge. Drury's Inf. Vol. 1. 1. 18. f . 3.
Bombyx Dione; Fair. Enlom. emend. Vol. 4. 442.
T h is caterpillar feeds upon Plantain, Corn, Peas, and many other plants. I t
was hatched on th e 23d o f July, Ipun th e 28th o f Auguft, and th e fly appeared
September gth. I t fometimes makes g reat devaftation among young Indian corn.
The moth here reprefented is nearly allied to the laft, and was perhaps by Linnseus confounded
with it, but they may be diftinguifhed in every date. Their great affinity, and the
analogy of neighbouring fpecies, muft form out apology for the feeming abfurdity of defining
the upper wings as black, when the light colour certainly predominates. Dr. Hunter’s Mu-
feum fhews this to be the Bombyx Dione of Fabricius, arid it exadlly agrees with his deferip-
tio n ; but as he neither quotes Drury’s figure, nor has placed this moth in his fyfiem near
any of thofe to which it is evidently and ftri&ly related, we could fcarcely have made it but
but by accident.