Wm. Barnes and J. McDunnough.
List of Sphingidæ of America North of Mexico.
Psyche 17:190-205, 1910.

Full text (searchable PDF, 1272K)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/17/17-190.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

190 Psyche [October
of our burrowing bees of the genus HaUctus. Some years ago Melander and Brues published an interesting account of H. yruinosus R0bertson.l In this they showed that the most for- midable enemy of the bee is the Pseudomethoca. They found that the female Pseudomethoca hangs about the burrows and attacks the female bee, and they have given a very entertaining figure and description of a battle between the bee and the Mutillid. Fully fifty specimens of the latter insect were taken from one square meter of Halictus colony during a single sum- mer. In the dry pasture in which I found the gynandromorph there were many Halictus colonies, so that, in all probability, the specimen had passed through its larval and pupal develop- ment in one of the nests.
LIST OF SPHINGIDB OF AMERICA NORTH OF
MEXICO.
BY WILLIAM BARNES, M. D., AND J. MCDUNNOUGH, PH. D. Decatur, Illinois.
Since Rothschild & Jordan issued their Revision of the Lep- idopterous Family Sphingidse in 1903, no attempt has been made to give a complete list of our North American species based upon this monograph. Holland in his Moth Book follows their work but his list does not pretend to be complete; as several new ad- ditions to our fauna have lately come under our notice, and as we have been made aware of several slight errors in the revision relating to North American species, it has occurred to us that an annotated list would perhaps be of service to collectors and future catalog makers. We have followed the revision as regards nomenclature in nearly every case, basing our remarks upon ma- terial in Coll. Barnes, which is practically complete in North American Sphingidse. The list of localities is not intended to be exhaustive, but in most instances merely mentions localities from which we actually possess specimens.
For the benefit of those unfamiliar with Rothschild & Jordan's 1 Guests and Parasites
of the
Burrowing Bee Halictus. Biol. Bull. V, No. I, June 1903, pp. 1-27, 6 figs.




================================================================================

19101 Barnes and McDunnough-Sphingidce of North America 191 monumental work, we might state that the trinomial system of nomenclature here adopted is based on the fact that all species are more or less liable to geographical variation; taking the first geographical race described as the name for the whole species, the names of the different racial forms are merely added to this name without intervention of the term var. Thus chersis oreo- daphne would be equivalent to chersis var. oreodaphne, and, since the first described race is as much a geographical variety as all others, the name chersis chersis must be used to indicate the typi- cal race. Variations within the limits of a single race are termed forms; thus we have P. modesta imperator f. t. kunzei which indicates the summer form (kunzei) of the imperator race (Ariz.) of P. modesta Harris.
In conclusion we might state that we are thoroughly in sym- pathy with the system of nomenclature advocated so ably by Rothschild & Jordan. The making the first species mentioned under a given generic name the type of that genus may seem at first sight rather radical, but it at least possesses the advantage of being absolutely infallible, besides saving an enormous amount of misspent labor in searching through ancient and musty vol- umes, as is involved under the "restriction" principle, a prin- ciple only capable of being carried out with any fairly assured certainty of success when one has the entomological literature of the world at one's command. Surely a system which will assure a lasting stability and uniformity in our only too involved entomological nomenclature should be hailed with acclamation by all those who have the true welfare of entomology at heart; like a dose of purging medicine it may cause considerable dis- comfort for a time, but if the result will be to free our successors from all the difficulties we are at present contending with, then let us submit with cheerful spirits to any such slight personal inconvenience as it may entail.
List of Sphingidae north of Mexico.
Subfamily ACHERONTIINE.
Tribe ACHERONTIIC.E.
Genus Herse Oken.
(1) H. cingulata Fabr.
ab. decolorata Hy. Edw.
N. Y. to Tex.




================================================================================

192 Psyche
[October
Tribe SPHINGIC-E.
Genus Cocytius Hbn.
(2) C. antaeus Drury.
(a) aritaeus medor Stall.
Typical antceus is taken in the Antilles, not in N. America. Genus Protoparce. Burm.
(3) P. sexta Johanns.
syn. carolina.
Holland mentions P. occulta R. & J. from Texas. We do not, however, know of any authentic specimens from this locality. It occurs in Mexico.
(4) P. quinquemaculatus Haw.
syn. celeus.
(5) P. rustica Fabr.
(6) P. brontes Dru.
(a) brontes cubensis G. & R.
Nearctic Region.
N. Y. southward.
Southern Florida.
The typical brontes is confined to Jamaica, and Drury's cita- tion of New York as habitat was doubtless due to an error. The form found in South Florida, of which Dr. Barnes has 43's' is cubensis G. & R. and differs from brontes only in its clearer mark- ings and slightly more variegated appearance. 6a) P. muscosa R. & J.
Tex., Ariz.
Recorded by Doll from Texas;
13 in Coll. Barnes from Pres-
cott, Ariz. ex.-larva.
(7) P,. brevimargo. Butl. Ariz.
This species has been placed by Rothschild & Jordan in the synonomy of P. $orestan, which species is characterized by the possession of a pulvillus on the claw segment. Dr. Barnes has,
however, recently received a single 3 specimen from Huachuca Mountains, Ariz., in which the pulvillus is not present on any of the claws. According to Rothschild & Jordan this would place it under P. corallina Druce. Druce in his Biol. Cent. Amer. figures both species, and the specimen in question agrees so exactly in all particulars with his figure of brevimargo that we have had no hesitation in identifying it as this species. Until further material is forthcoming we consider it advisable to treat brevimargo as a



================================================================================

19101 Barnes and McDunnough-Sphingidoe of North America 193 separate species.
There is no doubt about the authenticity of the locality, and we are in hopes of receiving further specimens another year, which may throw some light on the synonomy of this difficult group.
Genus Chlaenogramma Sm.
(8) c. jasminearum. Guer.
Genus Dolba Walk.
(9) Dolba hylaeus. Drury.
Genus Dolbogene R. & J.
(10) D. hartwegi Butl.
Ohio, N. J., D. C.
N. Y., Md., Ill., Tex.
Ariz.
13 in Dr. Barnes' collection taken by 0. Poling in Southern A* rizona.
Genus Isogramma R. & J.
(11) I. hageni Grt.
Genus Ceratomia Harris.
(12) C. amyntor Hub.
(13) C. undulosa Walk.
(14) C. catalpae Bdv.
Genus Isoparce R. & J.
(15) I. cupressi Bdv.
Not in Dr. Barnes' Coll.
Genus Dictyosoma R. & J.
(16) D. elsa Stkr.
Genus Atreus Grt.
(17) A. plebeja Fabr.
Genus Hyloicus Hbnr.
(18) H. lugens Wlk.
syn. andromedce. Bdv.
Tex.
N. Y., Penn., S. Dak.
S. Dak., Ill., Penn.
N. Y., Ky.
Geo., Ha.
Arizona.
N. Y., N. J., Ala., Tex.
S. Western States?
We do not know of any authentic record of this species having been taken in the United States, but Neumcegen mentions that a few specimens have been captured in the southwestern states. Possibly he was in error regarding the species. (19) H. geminus R. & J.
Tex.
Two Specimens in Coll. Barnes labelled Galveston, Texas, received as lugens, correspond with this new species. It may be separated from the foregoing by the large black markings on underside of abdomen. .
(20) H. eremitus Hub.
(21) H. eremitoides Streck.
N. J., N. Y., Md.,111.
Tex.




================================================================================

194 Psyche [October
This species, so frequently confused with lugens and separatus, may at once be separated from the former by its much smaller size and gray color, and from separatus by the fact that "the prothoracic tegulse have no obviously yellow marginal spots." In Coll. Barnes are 4
d71 and 4 Q from Kerrville, Texas.
(2) H. separatus Neum.
New Mexico.
This species was long regarded as equivalent to andromeda Bdv.=lugens Walk. It is however smaller and lighter in color than this form, and is most readily distinguished by the presence of a distinct yellow marginal spot on each side of the collar; these spots are always vestigial in the nearly allied species. Dr. Barnes possesses 2 c? and 3 Q from New Mexico.
(23) H. istar R. & J.
Tex.
This is the largest species of the group and is represented in Coll. Barnes by 2 8 and 2 Q , from Kerrville, Texas. Apart from difference in the genitalia it is separated from its near allies by the fact that the interspace between the black middle stripe of the prothoracic tegulse and the black upper edge is dark brown, much deeper in color than the thorax and adjacent parts. It also lacks the black
longitudinal line in the upper portion of cell on primaries.
(24) H. chersis Hbn.
(a) chersis pallescens R. & J.
(b) chersis oreodaphae Hy. Edw.
(c) chersis chersis Hbn.
N. Mex., Ariz
Cal.
Eastern States.
A careful examination of the specimens in Coll. Barnes named oreodaphce revealed the fact that with the exception of 2 9 they were all referable to the form asellus of perelegans. These 2 9 's belong to the new form, pallescens. Apart from their larger size and the marked difference in genitalia they may be most easily distinguished from asellus, to which they bear a strong super- ficial resemblance, by the fact that the gray color of primaries is much less even than in asellus and always shows whitish mark- ings below the black dashes, exactly as in typical chersis. The broader white band distal to the black marginal line on prim- aries, as well as the faint black middle line on patagia by which Rothschild & Jordan differentiate asellus, are not always very



================================================================================

19101 Barnes and McDunnough-Sphingd~ of North America 195 prominent in this speciesy but mayy howevery often be used as a means of separation.
(25) H. vancouverensis Hy. Edw.
(a) form albescens Tepp. Utah? Cola.? Wash.? B. Cay Man. The specimens in Dr. Barnes' COIL do not seem to verify Bruce's statement that vancouverensis and albescens are two seasonal forms. We have specimens of vancouverensis dated , May 8 (Co10.)~ May 10 (Wa~h.)~ June 16 (Co10.)~ June 9 (Mani- toba), July 8y 24$ (Co10.)~ and albescens dated May 1 and 5 (Co10.~ B. C.), June 24 (Colo.), and July 26 (Colo.). (26) H. libocedrus Hy. Edw.
(a) libocedrus libocedrus Hy. Edw.
(b) libocedrus insolita Lint.
Ariz.
Tex,
Rothschild & Jordan separate these two geographical races by the color of the abdominal side spotsy in libocedrus they are whitey whilst in insolita they have a yellowish tinge. Lintner in his original description of insolita statesy however, that "elongated patches (band?) of clear white scales extend over nearly half of each of the segments on its anterior half." Of the two specimens we have seen from Texas, both Q 's, one has the spots of a dis- tinct yellowish tingey in the other they are almost pure white, so we are inclined to think that Rothschild & Jordan's diagnosis will hardly hold. The material of libocecZrusy howevery at our dis- posal is too much worn on the abdomen to allow of our forming a definite opinion in this respect.
(2'7) H. perelegans Hy. Edw.
(a) form asellus R. & J.
(b) " perelegans Edw.
Co10.~ Ariz.
Gal.? B. C.
Apart from the difference in genitalia it is almost impossible to separate asellus from a small gray form of chersis. The form of the harpe is, however? so markedly different in both species that even a superficial examination of the genitalia serves to separate them. Whether asellus is a form of perelegans or may prove to be a good species we do not feel competent to decide. As far as our own experience goesy the two forms occur in differ- ent territoryy which would at least point to a geographical sub-



================================================================================

196 Pqjche [October
species.
Asellus seems fairly common in Colorado and Arizona, much more so than the form pallescens of chersis. (28) H. canadensis Bdv. N. Hamp.
(29) H. francki Neum.
Baltimore, Md.
Two specimens in Co11. Barnes.
(30) H. kalmiae Ab. & Sm. N. Y., Penn., Va. (31) H. gordius Cram.
(a) gordius oslari R. & J. Colo.
(b) gordius gordius Cram. N. H., N. J.å Va.å Minn.å Ill. The Colorado race is easily distinguishable from the eastern specimens by its much greater size and the paler color of pri- maries.
(32) H. luscitiosa Clem. N. Y., N. J.
(33) H. drupiferarum A. & S.
(a) drupiferarum drupiferarum A. & S.
Atlantic Subregion.
(b) drupiferarum utahensis Hy. Ed. Pacific States. The western form utahensis is said to be whiter than the eastern form. Dr. Barnes has however a long series from Colorado, Oregon and British Columbia which it is impossible to separate from the ordinary drupij'erarum of the east. In fact New York specimens in the same collection are considerably whiter than some of the western species. One Q , however, from British Columbia corres- ponds exactly with Hy. Edwardsy original description, having the primaries much more suffused with whitish grayy and the median band of the secondaries much broader, both of which points of difference do not hold for the remaining western specimens. We would be inclined to consider zitahensis as merely an aberrant form of drupiferarum afld not a geographical subspecies as treated by Rothschild & Jordan.
(34) H. dolli Neum.
(a) dolli coloradus Sm.
(b) dolli dolli Neum.
Co10.~ Utah.
Ariz.
We consider Rothschild & Jordan correct in treating these as merely geographical varieties of the same species. Dolli lacks
the black submarginal line and the dashes of the posterior por- tion of the disk, corresponds, however, in all other respects with coloradus.




================================================================================

19101 Barnes and McDunmugh-Sphingid~ of North America 197 (35) H. sequoiae Bdv.
(36) H. pinastri Linn.
Cal.
Dr. Barnes has two specimens of this species, one labelled Cal- ifornia, the other Waghorn, Alberta,
The Californian specimen
lacks the black dashes usually found in pinastri and has further the brown crossbands of primaries more strongly developed than in the Alberta specimen.
Genus Lapara Walk.
(37) L. coniferarum A. & S.
(38) L. bombycoides Wlk.
syn. harrisii Clem.
(39) L. pineum Lint.
N. Y., R. I.
Me., N, Y., Minn.
Rothschild & Jordan regard this as an extreme aberrant form of conij'eramm. We do not know the species, and believe that only two specimens have ever been taken. Genus Exedrium Grt.
(40) E. halicarniae Stkr.
Subfamily AMBULICINLE.
Genus Protambulyx R. & J.
(41) P. strigilis L.
ab. rufipennis Btlr.
Fla.
Fla.?
In Dr. Barnes' collection is a specimen labelled Palm Beach, Fla., received as P. carteri R. & J.
This on a careful exam-
ination proved to be P. strigilis, ab. rufipennis. We cannot
however vouch for the correctness of the locality label. (49) P. carteri R. & J.
Fla.
Rothschild & Jordan give Florida as a locality for this new species on the strength of a single 3, received from the Kny Scheerer Co. .
Genus Sphinx L.
(43) S. cerisyi Kirby.
(a) cerisyi cerisyi Kirby.
(b) cerisyi astarte Stkr.
(c) cerisyi ophthalmica Bdv.
(a) form pallidulus Edw.
(d) cerisyi saliceti Bdv.
Man., Ont.? Me., N. Y.
Colo., Utah
Gal.? Wash., Nev.? B. C.
Ariz.




================================================================================

198 Psyche [October
Two 3's in Dr. Barnes' collection labelled Catskill Mountains differ so decidedly from typical ce~isyi in shape of wing and post- discal lunules, approaching in this respect, as well as in the browner ground color, the form ophthalmicu, that one wonders if an error in labelling has not occurred somewhere. Both these 3's are
further remarkable for the entire lack of the white dash at end of cell.
Saliceti Bdv. is a brown form from Arizona in which the second blue spot of the eye mark on secondaries is straight and not curved towards the third spot. A11 three blue spots are present and dis- tinct from each other.
(44) S. jamaicensis Drury.
(a) form norm. geminatus Say.
(b) f. ab. jamaicensis Dru.
(c) f. ab. tripartitus Grt.
N. J.> Ill.
In Dr. Barnes'
collection is a remarkable aberration lacking all markings on both primaries and secondaries with tbe excep- tion of the apical Iunules.
Genus Calasymbolus Grt.
(45) C. excaecatus A. & S.
Ill., Co10.~ B. C.
(46) C. myopg A. & S.
Mass.? Pa.? Ohio7 Colo.
(47) C. astylus Dru.
N. Y.? N. J.
Genus Pachysphinx R. & J.
(48) P. modesta Harris.
(a) modesta modesta Harris.
Ill., B. C.
syn. occidenta1i.s Edw.
(b) modesta imperator Stkr.
Co10.~ Ariz.
(a') f, t. kunzei R. & J.
The form kunzei is the extremely pale summer brood of im- perator Stkr.
Genus Cressonia G. & R.
(49) C. juglandis A. & S. N. Yo? Mass.å Ohio? Ark.å Tex, Subfamily SESIINE.
Tribe DILOPHONOTICB.
Genus Pseudosphinx Burm.
(50) P. tetrio L.
Genus Erinnyis Hbn.
(51) E. alope Dru,
syn. edwardsii Butl.
FIa.å Tex.
Fla.




================================================================================

19101 Barnes and McDunnough-Sphingid~ of North America 199 (52) E. lassauxi Bdv.
f. merianae. Fla.
The typical lassauxi Bdv. occurs only in South America. The Florida form with the red area of hind wings prominent is f. mer- iun~.
(53) E. oenotrus Stoll. Fla.
(54) E. crameri Schaus. Fla.
(55) E. el10 L.
Fla., N. Mex.
(56) E. obscura Fabr. Fla., Tex., Ariz.
(57) E. domingonis Butl. Tex.
syn. festa Hy. Edw.
Rothschild & Jordan treat this as a good species. Genus Grammodia R. & J.
(58) G. caicus Cram.
Tribe SESIICE.
Genus Pachylia Walk.
(59) P. ficus L.
In Coll. Barnes is also a specimen of
Fla.
Fla.
P. resumens Wlk. labelled
Florida. We fear however to add this species to the list as we cannot vouch for the authenticity of the label. Rothschild &
Jordan, howevery give Florida as a locality. Genus Madoryx Bdv.
(60) M. pseudothyreus Grt.
Fla.
In Coll. Barnes two specimens from Chocoloskeey Fla. Also