350 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



in, 



Family SATURNIID.E (Sat-ur-ni'i-dae). 

 The Giant Silk-ivorvis. 



The large size of the members of the Saturniidae, and the 

 ease with which the cocoons of most of the species can be 

 collected, render them well known to every beginner in the 

 study of entomology. The family includes our largest lepi- 

 dopterous insects; and all of the species known to us are 

 above medium size. They are stout-bodied, hairy moths, 

 with more or less sunken heads, and strong, wide wings. 

 They may be distinguished from the Citheroniidae, some 

 of which rival them in size, by the form of the antennas of 

 the males, and by the fact that except in the lowest genus, 

 Coloradia, which is a rare insect from the far West, the 



hind wings are furnished 

 with only one inner vein. 

 The adults fly at night, and 

 / IIIs are attracted by lights. 



The head is small and 

 deeply sunken in the thorax ; 

 the antennae are either fili- 

 form or pectinated in the 

 females, but always pecti- 

 nated in the males ; and the 

 pectinations extend to the 

 tip. Where the antennae of 

 both sexes are pectinated, 

 the males can be distin- 

 guished by the larger size of 

 their antennae. The palpi 

 are small, and the maxillae 

 but little developed, often 

 obsolete. 



The thorax is densely clothed with hair. The wings are 

 broad, and are often furnished with transparent, window - 

 like spots. The frenulum is wanting. The humeral angle 



FIG. 429. Wings of Samia cecropia 



