LEPIDOPTERA 719 



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

 (Fig. 918) 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 re- 

 duced 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 

 the base and a narrow stripe out- 

 side the middle. The hind wings 



may be entirely yellow, or may " "Z- ^,0 . -"^^^^^"^ 

 , -^ • 1 u J 1 -J 4.1, Fig. 918. — Amsota rubicunda. 



have a pmk band outside the 



middle. The expanse of wings 



in the male is 35 to 43 mm. in the female 50 mm. or more. 



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 37 mm. 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 abominal 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 maxillae but little developed, 

 often vestigial. The sexes of these moths can be ditinguished by the 

 fact that the antennse of the males are more broadly pectinated than 

 are those of the females. 



The family includes our largest lepidopterous insects and all of 

 our species are above miedium size. They can be distinguished from 

 the Citheroniidae, some of which rival them in size, by the form of the 

 antennae of the males, which are pectinated to the apex; and in all of 

 our genera, except Colorddia, which is found in the Rocky Mountains, 

 vein Ml of both fore and hind wings is joined to radius by the cross- 

 vein r-w (Fig. 919). 



The wings are often furnished with transparent, window-like spots. 

 The frenulum is completely lost. The humeral angle of the hind 

 wings is largely developed, and is usually strengthened b}^ a deep 



