LEPIDOPTERA 



609 



and R coalesce for a short distance at the point where vein Ri joins 

 vein Sc. 



Only forty-three 

 North American spe- 

 cies of eucleids have 

 been described ; but 

 these represent twen- 

 ty genera. The larvse 

 are rarely abundant 

 enough to be of eco- 

 n o m i c importance ; 

 they are chiefly inter- 

 esting on account of 

 their remarkable 

 forms. The following 

 are some of the bet- 

 ter-known species: 



The saddle-back 

 caterpillar, Siblne 

 stimulea.- — This larva 

 can be recognized by 

 Figure 741. Its most 

 characteristic feature 

 is a large green patch 

 on the back, resem- 

 bling a saddle-cloth, 

 while the saddle is 

 represented by an 



oval purplish brown spot. The moth is dark, velvety, reddish brown, 

 with two white dots near the apex of the fore wings. The larva feeds 

 on oaks and oth- 

 er forest trees. 

 This is one of the 

 species that are 

 armed with ven- 

 omous setae. 



The spiny 

 oak-slug, Euclea 

 delplnnii.— This 

 larva (Fig. 742) 

 is one of the most 

 common of our slug caterpil- 

 lars and one of those that are 

 armed with venomous setae. 



It feeds on the leaves of oak, pear, willow, and other trees. The moth 

 (Fig. 743) is cinnamon-brown, with a variable number of bright 

 green spots on the fore wings. 



The hag-moth, Phobetron pithecium. — The common name hag- 

 moth is applied to the larva of this species on account of its remark • 



Fig. 740. 



-Wings of Packardia geminata. 



Fig. 743- — Euclea 

 delphinii. 



Fig. 742.- 

 delphinii, 



