660 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



the middle of the back. A white stripe with dark green margins 

 extends along the side from the head to the caudal horn, and below 



this are seven oblique stripes. This 

 larv^a is often infested by braconid 

 parasites; and it is a common oc- 

 currence to find one of them with 

 the cocoons of the parasites attached 

 to it (Fig. 812). The pupa state is 

 passed on the surface of the ground 

 Fig. 812. — Ampelceca myron, larva within a rude cocoon made bv 

 with cocoons of parasites. fastening leaves together with loose 



silken threads. The adult 

 expands about 55 mm. The fore 

 wings are olive gray, with a curved, olive-green, oblique band crossing 

 the basal third, a discal point of the same color, and beyond this a 

 large triangular spot with its apex on the costa and its base on the 

 inner margin. 



The pandorus Sphinx, Pholus pandorus. — This magnificent moth 

 expands from 100 to 112 mm. The ground color of its wings is pale 

 olive, verging in some places into gray ; the markings consist of patches 

 and stripes of dark, rich velvety olive, sometimes almost black (Fig. 

 813). Near the inner margins of both pairs of wings the lighter color 

 shades out into pale yellow, which is tinged in places with delicate 

 rose-color. These markings show a harmony of contrasting shades 



J?:^^. 



Fig. 813. — Pholus pandorus. 



rarely equalled elsewhere by nature or art. The larva is one of the 

 hog-caterpillars. It feeds upon the leav-es of Virginia-creeper. When 

 young it is pinkish in color, and has a long caudal horn; as it matures 

 it changes to a reddish brown, and the horn shortens and curls up 

 like a dog's tail and finally disappears, leaving an eye-like tubercle. 

 The caterpillar has on each side five or six cream-colored oval spots, 

 enveloping the spiracles. 



The white-lined sphinx, Celerio linedta. — This moth can be easily 

 recognized by Figure 814. Its body and fore wings are olive-brown; 

 there are three parallel white stripes along each side of the thorax; 



