454 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



The puss moths are noticeable from the fact that the abdomen of the larvae ends 

 in two long tails. They are brightly colored. That of the European Staurojyus fagi 

 is a very curious form, remarkable for the great length of its thoracic legs, which are 

 nearly as large, proportionately, as those of the adult. Our Centra borealis, the larva 

 of which closely resembles that of the European Harpyia vinuli in the disposition 

 of its markings, feeds upon various poplars and willows. The moth, when at rest, 

 always extends the first pair of its hairy legs beyond the head. 



. 



FIG. 571. a, Harpyia vinuli; b, cocoon; c, larva; d, larva of Staurojmn fatji. 



The next group contains a number of forms with stout bodies which are covered 

 with quantities of long and closely set hairs, giving a very woolly appearance. The 

 tent-caterpillar, Clisiocampa, is well known, forming its silken webs in the branches 

 of neglected orchards. These webs are spun by the caterpillars, and sometimes harbor 

 three or four hundred of these black and yellow larvae. When the caterpillars are not 

 feeding, they may be found sheltered by the tent; but, when impelled by hunger, each 

 one, as he leaves the house, spins a silken thread so that he may find his way back 

 after the demands of appetite are answered. Allied to the tent-caterpillar are the 

 genera (fastropacha and Tolype, both represented in our fauna. 



Eacles imperial-is, a yellowish moth with brownish or purplish markings, is one of 

 our largest and most striking bombycids, and, together with the genera Anisota and 

 Hyperchiria, forms a series of forms many of which, like the Attaci, have the wings 



ornamented with eye-like spots, 

 but can readily be distinguished 

 from it by the fact that the hind 

 wings extend but little behind the 

 abdomen. 



The To Moth, Byperchiria io, 

 one of the most showy and beau- 

 tiful of the North American spe- 

 cies, has an expanse of wings of 



FIG. 572. Hi/perchiria to. . , ,, 



about three inches. The males 



are of a deep-yellow color, with two purplish-brown, wavy lines across the outer part of 

 the wings, a zigzag line near the base, and a few spots of the same color on the end of 



