282 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



Fig. 296. 



Case of the Moth 



attached to a piece of 



cloth. 



metamorphosis, the larvas abandon their food, and establish them- 

 selves in the angles of walls. They creep up to the ceilings and sus- 

 pend themselves to them by one extremity of their tube. The two 

 ends of the tube are now closed by a silken tissue 

 (Fig. 296). The larva thus enclosed very soon 

 changes its form ; it becomes a chrysalis ; then at 

 the end of about three weeks it is set free as a 

 moth. 



The Fur or Skin Moth works like the carpet 

 moth : it makes itself a case of the same form, and 

 constructs it in the same manner. Only in this 

 case its covering is made of a sort of felt resembling 

 that of which our hats are made. 



While the Carpet Moth only detaches from the 

 various stuffs the wool it requires for clothing and 

 nourishment, the Fur Moth causes much more considerable and more 

 rapid damage. It cuts off all the hairs which are in its way right 

 down to the skin ; it seems as if it took a delight in cutting them 

 off That which is necessary for its wants is nothing in comparison 

 to the great quantity of hair one sees fall off a skin on which it has 

 established itself, when it is shaken. As it advances it cuts more 

 thoroughly than a razor could all the hairs which are in its way. 



The Hair Moth (Fig. 297) shows itself in great numbers in the 

 perfect state, from the end of April till the beginning 

 of June. They appear again in September, and 

 generally stay behind cabinets and other pieces of 

 furniture. 



The caterpillar, which is cylindrical, Avhite, des- 

 titute of hair, and striped with brown, lives principally 

 in the hair with which furniture is stuffed, and sometimes in hair 

 matresses. When it has reached its full size, it abandons its abode, 

 pierces through the stuff which covers the hair, and constructs for 

 itself with this stuff a case of silk, open only towards the end where 

 the head is. At the beginning of April it shuts its case, and changes 

 itself into a chrysalis. 



We can only here mention some of the phytophagous species, as 

 the Cherry-tree Moth {Tinea cerasiella), the Hawthorn Moth {Tmea 

 cratcBgelld), the Burdock Moth {Tinea lapella), and the Rustic Moth 

 ( Tifiea riisticella ) . 



The caterpillars of the CEcophorce, resemble whitish worms. They 

 attack the leaves, the blossoms, the bark, and certain parts of the 

 fruit of trees. Some of these hollow out for themselves galleries in 



Fig. 297. — Hair Moth. 



