Cambridge Entomological Club, 1874
PSYCHE

A Journal of Entomology

founded in 1874 by the Cambridge Entomological Club
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W. M. Davis.
The Red-Margined Luna, a New Variety.
Psyche 19:91, 1912.

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1912] DavieThe Red-Margined Luna, a New Variety 91 THE RED-MARGINED LUNA? A NEW VARIETY.
BY w~~~~~~ T. DAVIS?
Staten Island? N. Y.
In the vicinity of New York City the Luna moth is double brooded and occasionally there is also a third generation. The earliest Staten Island record that we have $or the emergence of the moth out of doors? is April 20y l89ly and the next May ly 1887. Later May records are more numerous, but the majority of the moths emerge in June and July. We long ago pointed out in the Proceedings of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island for April 13å 1895å that there was a spring form of Tropcea luna. This color variety may be called rubro~narginata~ the Red-mar- gined Luna. It differs in color from the typical luna? having the costa red or reddishy and the outer margins of both the fore and hind wings are also of a reddish or scarlet hue. From this extreme, which is represented by three individuals in the author's collec- tion? the variety grades into moths with the costa purplish and the outer margins of both the fore and hind wings of the same colory or of a reddish hue. The Lunas that have but the costa of a purple color appear later in the season than those in which the outer margins of both wings are deeply colored as well. These observations it should be understood refer to insects found out of doors and not artificially raised.
Dr. Alexander M. Ross in his "Classified Catalogue of the Lepi- doptera of Canada," Toronto, 1872, which is now a scarce pub- lication, has this to say of his Actim row& now considered a variety: "I am satisfied this is a new species. The three specimens in my collection I obtained in a grove of maple, birch, and oaky near Toronto. The male is pure white? and expands three and a half inches; the female is whitey with a light yellowish tinge. In form and marking, this moth closely resembles Actias luna. In my work on 'The Butterflies and Moths of Canada,' a full description of this beautiful insect is given."
"The Butterflies and Moths of Canada" referred to above, did not appear until 1873, and while there is ,a cut of the "Empress Luna Mothyy on page 42? and a description of Actias luna on page



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