734 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



known as texana. 

 A much better known 

 species is the yucca-borer, 

 Megathymns yucccB. The 

 female of this species 

 differs from that of the 

 preceding in having much 

 darker wings, all of the 

 spots being smaller, and 

 in having onl}^ one or two 

 white spots on the lower 

 surface of the hind wings. 

 The male lacks the erect 

 hairs on the hind wings. 



The larva bores in the stem and root of the Yucca or Spanish bayonet. 



It differs greatly in appearance from the larvse of the Hesperiidae, 



having a small head. This species is widely distributed through the 



southern part of our country. 



Fig. 938. — Megatliyii!ii\ i'rt 



Family HESPERIID^ 



The Common Skippers 



This family includes all of our skippers except the very small 

 number that belong to the preceding family, the giant skippers. The 

 two families can be separated 



■V^K^«fh^r.^ 



Fig. 939. — Epargyreus tityriis, larva. 



by the table given above. 



The larvce of the common 

 skippers present a ver}^ char- 

 acteristic appearance, having 

 large heads and strongly con- 

 stricted necks (Fig. 939). They 

 usually live concealed in a 

 folded leaf or in a nest made 



of several leaves fastened together. The pupse are rounded, not 

 angular, resembling those of moths more than those of butterflies. 

 The pupa state is passed in a slight cocoon, which is generally com- 

 posed of leaves fastened together with silk, and thinly lined with the 

 same substance. 



A monograph of the North American species was published by 

 Lindsey ('21); and the species of the Eastern United States are de- 

 scribed and figured in natural colors by Comstock and Comstock ('04). 



The family Hesperiidffi includes four subfamilies ; but only three 

 of them are represented in this country, the fourth being confined 

 to the Old World. Our forms can be separated as follows. 



A. Club of antennae large; the entire club reflexed. p. 735 Pyrrhopygin^ 



AA. Club of antennas variable, but never with the entire club reflexed. 



B. Vein Mj of the fore wings arising nearer to vein Mi than to vein M3. p. 735. 

 Hesperiin<e 



