MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



occupied. Family characteristics show at once. Many 

 of them immediately turn and eat their shells as if starv- 

 ing; others are more deliberate. Some race around for a 

 time as if exercising and then return and eat their shells; 

 others walk briskly away and do not dine on shell for the 

 first meal. Usually all of them rest close twenty-four 

 hours before beginning on leaves. Once they commence 

 feeding in favourable conditions they eat enormously 

 and grow so rapidly they soon become too large for their 

 skins to hold them another instant; so they pause and 

 stop eating for a day or two while a new skin forms. 

 Then the old is discarded and eaten for a first meal, 

 with the exception of the face covering. At the same time 

 the outer skin is cast the intestinal lining is thrown oft, 

 and practically a new caterpillar, often bearing different 

 markings, begins to feed again. 



These moults occur from four to six times in the 

 development of the caterpillar; at each it emerges larger, 

 brighter, often with other changes of colour, and eats 

 more voraciously as it grows. With me, in handling 

 caterpillars about which I am anxious, their moulting 

 time is critical. I lost many until I learned to clean their 

 boxes thoroughly the instant they stopped eating and 

 leave them alone until they exhibited hunger signs 

 again. They eat greedily of the leaves preferred by each 

 species, doing best when the foliage is washed and drops 

 of water left for them to drink as they would find dew 



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