ig8 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



Fig. 339. — Lagoa crispala, male. 



setiferous tubercles bear large numbers of fine setae; so that the body is 

 densely hairy; and interspersed among the fine setae are venomous setae. 



The crinkled flannel-moth, Lagoa cris- 

 pata, is cream-colored, with the fore wings 

 marked with wavy lines of crinkled black 

 and br< iwnish hairs. The male is represented 

 in Figure 339; the female is larger, expand- 

 ing i\ inches. In the female the antennae 

 are very narrowly pectinate. 



The larvae feed on many trees and shrubs, 

 including oak, elm, apple, and raspberry. 

 They are short, thick, and fleshy, and are 

 covered with a dense coat of long, silky, brown hairs, which project up- 

 ward and meet to form a ridge or crest along the middle of the back; 

 interspersed among these fine hairs are venomous setae. 



The cocoons are of a firm, parchment-like texture, covered with a 

 thin web of rather coarse threads. Mixed with the silk of the cocoon are 

 hairs of the larva. The cocoon is similar to that of the next species. 



The puss-caterpillar moth, Megalopyge opercular is, is somewhat 

 smaller than the preceding one; the male has a wing-expanse of about 

 1 inch and the female of about \\ inches. The 

 fore wings are umber-brown at base, fading to 

 pale yellow outwardly; they are marked with 

 wavy lines of white and blackish hairs, and the 

 fore margins are nearly black. The larvae are sim- 

 ilar to those of the preceding species. The cocoon 

 is provided with a hinged lid (Fig. 340). 



This species is found from North Carolina 

 to Texas. The larva is a very general feeder; 

 it is often found on oak. It is a seriously nettling ° penu ans ' 

 caterpillar often causing distinct irritation when it comes in contact with 

 one's skin. 



Fig. 340. — ■ Old cocoon of Megalo- 



Family Eucleid^ * 

 The Slug-caterpillar Moths 



One often finds on the leaves of shrubs or trees, elliptical or oval 

 larvae that resemble slugs in the form of the body and in their gliding 

 motion. As these are the larvae of moths they have been termed slug- 

 caterpillars; but they present very little similarity in form to other 

 caterpillars. The resemblance to slugs is greatly increased by the fact 

 that the lower surface of the body is closely applied to the object upon 

 which the larva is creeping, the thoracic legs being small and the prolegs 

 wanting. There is, however, on the ventral side of the abdomen a series 

 of sucking-disks, which serve the purpose of prolegs. The head of the 

 larva is small and retractile. In some species the body is naked; in 

 others it is clothed with tufts of hair; and in others there is an armature 

 of branching spines. Several species bear venomous setae. 



The larwe when full-grown spin very dense cocoons of brown silk; 



* This family is termed the Cochlidiidac by some writers, and by others the 

 Limacodidae. 



