FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS, 



male's wings is such a dark maroon that it is sometimes 

 practically black and all but the marginal markings are 

 obscured; the female is much lighter colored. 



Both sexes of C. angulifera have a fat, V-shaped, white 

 mark, something like that on the hind wings of the female 

 promethea, on the front wings, and the female has it on the 

 hind wings also. Its larva feeds chiefly on the tulip-tree 

 (Liriodendron}. The cocoon is wrapped in leaves like 

 Promethea 's but with the difference that usually no "stem " 

 fastening it to the twig is made so that the cocoon falls 

 to the ground when the tree sheds its leaves. It is an 

 Atlantic Coast species which is usually not common even 

 in the Middle States, its principal home. 



The Saturnid moths thus far mentioned belong to the 

 subfamily Attacinae. We now take up the Saturniinae. 



Actias luna The Luna Moth ( P1 ate XLIII) is rather 



generally considered to be our most beautiful 

 insect but its lovely green fades rapidly to a light gray. 

 It is rather common and, once seen, is rarely forgotten. 

 The larva feeds on walnut, hickory, sweet-gum (Liquid- 

 ambar), persimmon, and other trees; when mature, it 

 is about three inches long; it varies somewhat in its 

 colors, especially those of the tubercles; and suggests 

 the larva of polyphemus but may be distinguished from it 

 by the yellow lateral line and the absence of the seven 

 oblique side-stripes; when about to pupate, the back 

 usually changes from yellowish green to pinkish. The 

 cocoon is very thin and rattles when pressed or when the 

 pupa moves; it is usually made between leaves on the 

 ground. In some sections it is at least double-brooded, 

 ^he early-spring adults usually have purple outer margins 

 on the wings; later individuals lack these. 



Larvae of Polyphemus (Plate XLIV) are 



sent in to the American Museum every 

 polyphemus 



season so that they must be frequently 



seen by the "laity" even though they are the color of 

 leaves. They feed on oak, birch, and a great variety of 

 other trees, and somewhat resemble those of luna. More 



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