2\2 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



deep velvety-black color. The front wings have two large sulphur- 

 yellow spots; and the hind wings, two white spots. The tegulae are 



sulphur-yellow. 



The larva (Fig. 422) feeds 



''"| KP y^\^ X upon the leaves of grape and 



>v"' Av "* r ^P" Virginia-creeper, and some- 



J *" times occurs in such large 



numbers as to do serious 



FIG. 422. - Alypia oclomaculala, larva. injury. The gTOUnd-COlor of 



the larva is white, with eight black stripes on each segment, and a broader 

 orange band, bounded by the two middle stripes; the orange bands are 

 marked by black, conical, elevated spots. There are usually two broods 

 each year, the moths appearing on the wing in May and August, the cat- 

 erpillars in June and July, and in September. The pupa state is passed 

 in an earthen cell in the ground. 



This species is found in the Atlantic States from Massachusetts to 

 Texas. 



Family Arctiid^; 

 The Tiger-moths and Footman-moths or Arctiids 



The Arctiidae includes stout-bodied moths, with moderately broad 

 wings, which in the majority of cases are conspicuously striped _ or 

 spotted, suggesting the popular name tiger-moths; some of the species, 

 however, are unspotted. A large proportion of the species are exceedingly 

 beautiful; this renders the family a favorite one with collectors. As a 

 rule, when at rest, the wings are folded, roof -like upon the body. Most 

 of the moths fly at night, and are attracted to lights. Those moths of 

 this family which are white with black spots are known in this country 

 as ermine moths. 



The larva? of the tiger-moths, except that of Utetheisa, are clothed 

 with dense clusters of hairs. In fact a large proportion of our common 

 hairv caterpillars are members of this family. In some species, certain 

 of the clusters of hairs are much larger than the others, resembling in 

 this respect the clothing of the tussock-moths. Most larvas of the arctiids 

 feed upon herbaceous plants, and many species seem to have but little 

 choice of food-plant; but certain common species feed upon leaves of 

 forest trees. 



Haploa contigna. — This species 

 (Fig. 423), is one of a number of very 

 handsome moths belonging to the 

 genus, Haploa. Some are snow- 

 white or light yellow with the fore 

 wings banded with brown. They 

 vary greatly in their markings. 



The harlequin milkweed cater- . 

 pillar, Euchatias cgle. — This larva is FlG - «■ - Ea *^ «•"*-■ 



the most common caterpillar found on milkweed. It is clothed with 

 tufts of orange, black, and white; those at each end of the body are 

 longer than the others and are arranged radiately (Fig. 424). When full 

 grown the larva makes a felt-like cocoon composed largely of its hairs. 



