114 



ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



der head with maxillary tenta- 

 cles coiled around it. Photo- 

 graphed from nature. X 6. 



from them by their large size, darker color, and spinous 

 covering; also by their position, since the proboscis is 

 situated between them. 



The female Promiba moth rests quietly during the 



clay, head down ward in the blos- 

 som of the yucca. About sun- 

 sct, or soon after dark, she may 

 be seen running np to the top 

 of one of the stamens, and col- 

 lecting pollen from the anthers 

 by extending the tentacles and 

 proboscis ont over the stamens, 

 FIG. 97. Head of Pronuba giving her a firmer hold upon 



moth, showing pollen-mass un- -, , . . , 



the stamen and bringing the 

 head close to the anthers. She 

 now moves her head back and 

 forth, using the maxillary palpi to scrape the pollen 

 from the anthers toward the tentacles. The pollen gath- 

 ered, she packs it in a little 

 pellet under her head, using her 

 front feet as well as the tenta- 

 cles. Then she goes to a second 

 stamen, collects more in the 

 same way, and then to another, 

 until she has collected a pollen- 

 mass larger than her head. 

 (Fig. 97.) She generally flies 

 to another flower to rest awhile, 

 head downward. After resting, ^ 9g Ovipositor of Pro . 



in SOme Cases Ollly a few mill- nuba moth for insertion of egg 

 . in deep ovary of yucca lily. 



utes, in others a much longer (After 



