ENTOMOLOGY IN OUTLINE— LEPIDOPTERA. 75 



genera and species, there being hundreds of the former and thousands 

 of the latter. The common name is owlet-moths, given them from their 

 nocturnal habits, and their soft-downy appearance. In both respects 

 they resemble owls. In their larval form they are injurious to vege- 

 tation, and are among the worst of our insect enemies in this order. 

 The cutworms, which are so destructive to young plants, belong to this 

 family. Many of the moths are dull colored, but, at the same time, the 

 family gives us some of the most beautiful of insects. The catocalas, 

 or underwings, also belong here. The members of this family have 

 very distinct characteristics, by which they may be recognized, and the 

 venation of the wings is especially very constant. 



The family Nyeteolidse is a small one, resembling the Noctuidse in 

 many respects, and is represented in the United States by only two 

 genera. 



The family Perieopidse somewhat resembles the wood-nymphs, but 

 has a different wing venation. They are not conmion, and in our 

 State are represented by Gnophselia vermiculata, a beautiful moth found 

 in the foothill sections. 



The family Dioptidse is represented by only one species, and that a 

 California one, the common live-oak moth {Phryganidia calif ornica) . 

 This is the light-colored weak moth which appears in such great num- 

 bers on the live oaks and sometimes entirely defoliates them. 



The family Notodontidse includes a number of families of moths of 

 moderate size, ranging up to two inches spread of wing. They strongly 

 resemble the owlets, from which they differ principally in wing venation. 



The ThyatiPidse are another family resembling the owlets, but which 

 present sufficient difference to class it as a separate family. 



The family Lipapidse is of interest to us, as it includes among 

 its members the tussock-moth {Hemerocampa vetusta), which is very 

 widely distributed and a very common pest in California. The females 

 of this genus are wingless, or, at least, possess wings of a very rudi- 

 mentary form. The female deposits her eggs on the cocoon from which 

 she has emerged, and covers them with a frothy mass, after having per- 

 formed which duty she dies. In spite of the common prejudice against 

 caterpillars, it must be acknowledged that the caterpillar of the tussock- 

 moth is a beautiful insect, with its bright yellow color, the coral red 

 protuberances on the last dorsal segments, and the four creamy brush- 

 like tufts on its back, with the two black plumes on the anterior, and 

 one on the posterior section of the body. Altogether, as a caterpillar, 

 it is remarkable for both form and coloring. 



