LEPIDOPTERA 249 



lacking the large transparent space on the middle of the wings. The 

 larva is black, with four orange-yellow stripes on the back and two along 

 each side; its spines are similar to those of the preceding species. 



The spiny oak-worm, Anisota stigma. — The female closely resembles 

 that of A. senatorial and as both species are variable it is sometimes 

 difficult to determine to which a given specimen belongs. In A. stigma 

 the wings are rather darker and have a greater number of blackish spots, 

 and the hind wings are furnished with a middle band which is heavier 

 and more distinct than in A. senatoria. The male differs from that of 

 the other two species in quite closely resembling the female in coloring, 

 and in having the wings speckled. The larva differs from the other 

 species of Anisota in having long spines on the dorsal aspect of the third 

 thoracic and each abdominal segment in addition to the much longer 

 spines on the mesothorax. It is of a bright tawny or orange color, with a 

 dusky stripe along its back and dusky bands along its sides. 



The rosy Anisota, Anisota rubicunda. — The wings of this moth 

 (Fig. 437) are pale yellow, banded with 

 rose-color. The distribution of the color 

 varies greatly in different specimens. 

 In some the pink of the fore wings pre- 

 dominates, the yellow being reduced to 

 a broad discal band, while in one variety 

 the ground-color is yellowish-white 

 and the pink is reduced to a shade at 

 the base and a narrow stripe outside 

 the middle. The hind wings may be 

 entirely yellow, or may have a pink 

 band outside the middle. The expanse of wings in the male is about 1^ 

 inches; in the female about 2 inches. 



The larva of this species is known as the green-striped maple-worm, 

 and is sometimes a serious pest on soft-maple shade-trees. It measures 

 when full grown about i\ inches. It is pale yellowish-green, striped 

 above with eight very light, yellowish-green lines, alternating with seven 

 of a darker green, inclining' to black. There are two prominent horns on 

 the second thoracic segment, and two rows of spines on each side of the 

 body, one above and one below the spiracles. And on the eighth and 

 ninth abdominal segments there are four prominent dorsal spines. The 

 species is one- or two-brooded, and winters in the pupa state. 



Family Saturniid^e 



The Giant Silk-worms 



The large size' of members of this family and the ease with which 

 cocoons of some of the species can be collected render them well known 

 to every beginner in the study of entomology. They are stout-bodied, 

 hairy moths with more or less sunken heads and strong wide wings. The 

 palpi are small, and the maxillse but little developed, often vestigial. 

 The sexes of these moths can be distinguished by the fact that the an- 

 tennas of the males are more broadly pectinated than are those of the 

 females. 



Fig. 437. — Anisota rubicunda. 



