342 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



ni, 



the first molt, and the worm becomes lighter and lighter, 

 until in the last larval period it is of a cream-white color. 

 There is a prominent tubercle on the back of the eighth ab- 

 dominal segment, resembling those borne by certain larvae: 

 of the Sphingidae. 



There are many special treatises on this insect, some of 

 which should be consulted by any one intending to raise silk- 

 worms. 



Family HEMILEUCID^E (Hem-i-leu'ci-dae). 

 The Hcmilcucids (Hcm-i-lcu cids). 



This is a small family containing rather large and con- 

 spicuously marked insects. The antennas are broadly pec- 

 tinated in the males and narrowly so or nearly serrate in the 



females. There is only a 

 single pair of teeth to each 

 segment of the antennae. 

 The thorax and abdomen 

 are usually thickly clothed 

 with long woolly hair ; but 

 in some species the cloth- 

 ing of the antennae is less 

 woolly and more scale-like. 

 As to the wings, the frenu- 

 lum is wanting, the humer- 

 al angle of the hind wings 

 being largely developed 

 (Fig. 420) ; and in both 

 fore and hind wings veins 

 V, and V 2 are joined to- 

 radius by a common stalk. 

 Our best-known repre- 

 sentative is the Maia-moth, 

 Hemileuca utaia (Hem-i-leu'ca ma'i-a). In this species (Fig. 

 421) the wings are thinly scaled, sometimes semi-transparent ;. 



VII, 



FlG. 420. Wings of Hemileuca maia. 



