24 



ZOOLOGY 



larvre live in stems of squash, cucumber, etc., and bore 



into shrubs and trees (Fig. 22). 



The Arctiidae, 1 or Tiger-moths, are for the most part con- 



spicuously striped or spotted. The larvae are very hairy. 



The best known is the furry, brick-red and black Isabella 



caterpillar, which can be seen 

 during October in New Eng- 

 land, hurrying nervously in 

 search of winter quarters. 



The Bombycidae 2 include, 

 as a rule, large and thick- 

 bodied moths. Here belong 



o 



the silkworm moths - - the 

 only moths of use to man. 

 ( )f these, Bombyx mart 3 is 

 the most generally employed 

 in the manufacture of silk. It 

 originally came from China, 

 feeds on the leaves of the 

 white mulberry, and is reared 



Fia.22.-Larvaof oneof theSesiidse Cnie % in China > Ja P an > Itill y> 



and France. The method of 

 culture is as follows : The 

 eggs ("grains") are laid in the autumn, kept over winter 

 in a dry, airy, and cool place, and hatched when the mul- 

 berry begins to send out its leaves. On these leaves 

 the larvie are put to feed, and after a month they begin 

 to spin. For commercial purposes the larvae are induced 



1 From ap/cros, bear. 



2 Bombyx-like. Aristotle called the rustling silk /36/x/3os ; hence the 

 name Bombyx for the silkworm. 



3 morus, a mulberry tree. 



.u in stem. Nat. size. Photo, 



