LEPIDOPTERA 



289 



moths, nor is it buried in the ground. The various 

 groups of moths are distinguished by the structure 

 of the wings and 

 mouth, as well as by 

 the character of the 

 larva. Thus the 

 geometrids, or earth 

 measurers, have cat- 

 erpillars which pos- 

 sess fewer abdom- 

 inal legs, and walk 

 by bending thebody 

 in the shape of a 

 letter U. Several 

 families are in- 

 cluded under the 

 general term Micro- 

 lepidoptera, and are 

 noted for the small 

 size of nearly all the 

 species. At the other extreme are the often gigantic 

 Saturniidae, which include the large Asiatic silk moths, 

 and the familiar American luna, cecropia, and poly- 

 phemus moths. 



The lowest Lepidoptera- show many features in 

 common with the Trichoptera or caddis flies (page 273), 

 from primitive members of which the whole order 

 may be supposed to have arisen. 



3. Lepidoptera are especially noted for the various Protective 

 characters which they possess, apparently enabling O f mo ths 

 them to elude their enemies. Many species show 

 protective coloration; thus, for example, the red-under- 

 wing moth, Catocala, when it settles on the bark of a 

 tree, so perfectly resembles the surface on which it 



From "Animate Creation " 

 FIG. 103. Milkweed butterfly (Danaus archippus). 



