Genus. Dryocampa, Harris in Hitchcock's Report on the Geology, &c. of Massachusets (Amherst Mass. 1834. roy. 8vo.)
Dryocampa Virginiensis. Alis cervinis, anticis puncto parvo discoidali albo, fasciâque obliquâ pallidiori. (Expans. Alar. 2 unc. 7 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Bombyx) Virginiensis, Drury, Append. vol. 2.
Phalæna pellucida, Abbot & Smith Ins. Georg. t. 58?
Phalæna Astynome? Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 43. 73.
Habitat: Virginia.
Upper Side. Antennæ setaceous. Head, thorax, and abdomen dark orange. Wings faint fox-coloured; immaculate, except the anterior ones, which have a faint light spot on each, about a third of an inch from the shoulders, and a faint line which runs from the tips to the middle of the posterior edges.
Under Side. Legs, sides, thorax, and abdomen dark orange. Wings with a faint narrow bar crossing them near their external edges, dividing the wings into two partitions; the lower ones being of the same colour as on the upper side, but those above the bar are of a yellowish fox-colour. Margins of the wings entire.
It is questionable whether this figure represents the Phalæna senatoria or pellucida of Abbot and Smith, by whom the transformations of both species have been illustrated; Smith citing Drury's figure with doubt, as belonging to pellucida. I have much pleasure in adopting the present well-marked genus proposed by Dr. Thaddeus W. Harris, one of the most distinguished American entomologists, in the appendix to the work above referred to; and respecting which I am indebted to that gentleman for the following communications:—"The male of Dryocampa senatoria, of Abbot and Smith, has the basal half of the antennæ pectinated on both sides, and the apex simple, as in Bombyx (Cerocampa, Kirby; Ceratocampa, Harris's Cat.) regalis and imperialis; and as they are described to be in the genus Zeuzera. The larvæ are naked, striped, rigid, with acute tubercles, and two thread-like horns on the second segment. They devour the leaves of forest trees, particularly oaks, and enter the earth to become pupæ. The edges of the segments of the pupæ are denticulated. On account of these peculiar characters, I have ventured to assign to this a new generical name; under which will be included also Bombyces pellucida, and Stigma, Fabr., figured in Abbot and Smith's Lepidopterous insects of Georgia; together with B. rubicunda, F. all of which are now found to inhabit Massachusets."
In addition to the characters mentioned by Dr. Harris, the peculiar form of the posterior wings of the males of these moths may also be noticed, and which are of a triangular form, somewhat like those of Erycina menetas (see vol. 3. pl. [8]. fig. 3.), but extending to the extremity of the abdomen. This genus is not far removed, in its natural affinities, from that of Ceratocampa, (see vol. 1. pl. [9].)