74 



CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTUTiE. 



The fainily Lithosiidse consists of small or medium size^ insects, 

 which feed principally upon lichens. They pupate in silken cocoons, 



in which the hairs of the 

 larva are mixed. They are 

 not, as a rule, destructive to 

 cultivated plants, and so 

 can be dismissed from fur- 

 ther consideration here. 



FIG. 07. Yellow hei\T {Spilosoma vir(jiiiica). 

 b, pupa; c, moth. 



The family Aretiidse is a 

 very large one, being repre- 

 sented by thirty-eight genera 

 and over two thousand spe- 

 cies, of which there are some 

 a, larva; hundred and twenty species 

 in the United States. It in- 

 cludes the so-called woolly-bears and tiger-moths. They are stout- 

 bodied moths with moderately l)road Avings and usually spotted or 

 striped. Some of them are very highly colored and others are white. 

 They are mostly nocturnal 

 and are attracted to the light. 

 Their larvse are covered with 

 long hairs, which grow in 

 bunches, and they are very 

 general feeders, being found 

 on a wide range of vegetables. 

 The Arctiidse are represented 

 in our State by the fall web- 

 worm, although the family is 

 a very numerous one with us. 



The family Agaristidse con- 

 sists of day-flying moths, us- 

 ually of moderate size, and 

 it contains some of the most 

 beautiful members of the in- 

 sect world, although the most 

 beautiful members of it are 

 found in the tropics. In Cali- 

 fornia the wood-nymphs are 

 common, and are representa- 

 tive of this family here. 



The family!? Noetuidse in- 

 cludes a very large number of 



FIG. 08. Catocala lacrymosa. A, upper surface; B, 

 with wings closed, and resting on bark. Re- 

 duced. 



