The life history of the army cutworm moth (Chorizagrotis auxiliaris Grote), the larvae of which over-winter in the soil and mature early in the spring, is characterized by a spring flight in June, their almost complete disappearance during the early part of July and re-appearance during the latter part of August. The period during which they disappear is termed by other workers as an aestivation.

Rather slender bodied. Head shining, punctate, punctures unevenly distributed, widely separated on clypeus; more dense on tumid portion of frons below antennae, in malar space and between ocelli and antennae; ocellocular space polished, impunctate; cheeks and temples obscurely punctate. Clypeus poorly defined at base, apically broadly rounded, slightly angulate and elevated at middle of free edge.

This species has apparently been introduced in recent years and become established as a pest of the common native alder (Alnus rubra) on the west coast of Washington and British Columbia, particularly in the lower part of the Fraser River Valley. The earliest specimens I have at hand are a series of 15 females taken at White Rock, B. C., June 28, 1929, collected by Mr. G. Beall.

Most writers in discussing the food plants of leafhoppers in the past have assumed that the majority of them were grass feeders. In the last few years a considerable amount of careful work has been done with the result that it is now evident that in a number of important groups the food plants are rarely if ever grasses.

The following stucly is based on the material in the Canadian National Collection supplemented by specimens from the collections of Messrs. Carl G. Siepmann, F. S. Carr, and G. Stace Smith. No new characters for the separation of closely allied species are offered in this paper. The most valuable characters known are those of the so-called flagellum of the male genitalia; the most useful for key purposes are presented by the elytral markings.

Elliott and Soule in ‘Caterpillars and their Moths’ say of the luna eggs—“Luna eggs are as purely white as its own white scales. We have had many eggs of luna, and never one which was not white.”

Only the abdomen is preserved, but its markings are quite distinct, and indicate a Syrphid. Unfortunately, the wings are missing, so the exact generic relationship can not be determined; I am referring it to Syrphus at the suggestion of Dr. Charles R. Jones.