FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



LITHOSIID.E 



The larvae of this family are hairy, somewhat after the 

 fashion of the Arctiidas. Cocoons, of silk and larval hairs, 

 are made by some species but others are said to have 

 naked pupae. The adults have thread-like antennas and, 

 usually, well-developed mouth parts; they are popularly 

 called Footman Moths. 



Hypoprepia fucosa (Plate XLVIII) has three lead- 

 colored stripes on the fore wings, the ground color being 

 yellow and red. H. miniata is very much like it but the 

 dark markings are darker, and the light portions are bright 

 scarlet. The larvae of both feed on lichens. 



ARCTIID.E 



Topsell, in his History of Serpents (1608), said the larvae 

 of these moths were called Palmer-worms, by reason of 

 their wandering and roguish life, although by reason of 

 their roughness and ruggedness some call them Beare- 

 wormes (modern: Woolly Bears). Keats referred to the 

 adults when he wrote: 



"All diamonded with panes of quaint device, 

 Innumerable of stains, and splendid dyes, 

 As are the Tiger Moth's deep damask wings." 



There are more than 2000 species. The larvae are hairy, 

 usually very much so. The cocoons are made of silk and 

 larval hairs. The adults of some genera have aborted 

 mouth parts ; others have well-developed probosces. 



The color and markings of the Beautiful 



Utetheisa 



Utetheisa (Plate XLIX) vary greatly but 

 there is nothing in its range (Quebec to 

 Mexico and Antilles) which closely resembles it, except the 

 southern U. ornatrix which has "washed-out" front wings. 

 Although the adult sometimes comes to lights, it is easily 

 flushed, in the daytime, by walking through the meadows 

 in which its food plants grow. The larva is recorded as 

 feeding on cherry, elm, and other plants, but I have found 

 it only on and in the green seed-pods of Crotalaria (Rattle- 

 box) and doubt if it feeds on anything but Legumes. 



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