LEPIDOPTERA 



715 



In the Saturnioidea the branches of radius of the fore wing^s are 

 crowded closely together and at least one of them is lost. In all of 

 our species the antennae are naked or bear very few scattered scales. 



This superfamily includes two families, the North American forms 

 of which can be separated as follows. 



A. Vein Mi of the fore wings coalesced with radius to a point beyond the apex of 

 the discal cell; vein Mi of the hind wings joined to radius by the cross-vein 

 r-m (Fig. 912), Antennae of males pectinated but little more than half way to 

 the apex. p. 715 Citheroniid^ 



AA. Vein Mi of both fore and hind wings joined to radius by the cross-vein 

 r-m (Fig. 919) or rarely (Coloradia) coalesced at its base with radius in both 

 fore and hind wings. Antennas of males pectinated to the apex. p. 719. . . 

 Saturniidte 



Family CITHERONIID^ 



The Royal-Moths 



The royal-moths are stout -bodied and hairy, with sunken heads 

 and strong wings. The species are of medium or large size, some of 

 them being nearly as large as the 

 largest of our moths. There are two 

 anal veins in the hind wings; vein 

 Ml of the fore wings separates from 

 radius beyond the apex of the discal 

 cell (Fig. 912 and 913); veins Mi 

 and M2 of the hind wings are joined 

 to radius by vein r-m. The anten- 

 nae of the males are broadly pecti- 

 nated, but for only little more than 

 half their length. The palpi and 

 the maxillae are very small. 



The larvffi are armed with horns 

 or spines, of which those on the 

 second thoracic segment, and some- 

 times also those on the third, are 

 long and curved. These caterpillars 

 eat the leaves of forest -trees, and go 

 into the ground to transform, which 

 they do without making cocoons. 

 The rings of the pupa bear little 

 notched ridges, the teeth of which, 

 together with some strong piickles 

 at the hinder end of the body, assist 



it in forcing its way upwards out of the earth. A monograph of this 

 family including many colored figures of moths and larv^ was 

 published by Packard ('05). 



This is a small family; it is not represented in Europe, and less 

 than twenty species are known to occur in this country. The more 

 common ones are the following. 



