308 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



the sides of the body and at each end are a few scattered 

 hairs that are longer than the general clothing, and there 

 are two pairs of long black pencils borne by the first and 

 third abdominal segments, and a single pencil on the eighth 

 abdominal segment. When at rest the larva remains curled 

 sidewise on a leaf, as shown in the figure. It feeds on 

 maple, elm, and other forest trees. 



The Witch-hazel Dagger, Acronycta hamamelis (Ac-ro- 



nyc'ta ham-a-me'lis). In the latter 

 part of summer and in autumn the 

 larva of this species is common on the 

 leaves of witch-hazel, oak, and other 

 forest trees. It differs greatly in ap- 

 pearance from the preceding species, 

 being nearly naked (Fig. 374). When 

 at rest it usually lies curled as shown 

 in the figure. It varies in color from 

 light yellow to reddish brown. Its 

 most characteristic feature is a double 

 row of milk-white spots along the 

 middle of the back. 



FIG. 



374. Acronyctn 

 me I is, larva. 



hama- 



Family LYMANTRIID^: (Lym-an-tri'i-dae). 



The Tussock-moths. 



The larvae of these moths are among the most beautiful 

 of our caterpillars, being clothed with brightly-colored tufts 

 of hairs ; and it is to this characteristic clothing of the larvae 

 that the popular name Tussock-moths refers. 



The adult moths are much plainer in appearance than 

 the larvae ; and in the genus NotolopJins, to which our most 

 common species belong, the females are practically wingless, 

 the wings being at most short pads, of no use as organs 

 of flight. 



The Tussock-moths are of medium size, with the antennae 

 of both sexes when winged pectinate,d, those of the males 



