84 OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGrY. 



ible interest, and in which he learns much that can be turned to prac- 

 tical account in his endeavors to discover the best methods of keeping 

 pernicious species in check. A general description of the insects com- 

 posing this sub-order is almost impossible. Almost the only charac- 

 ters common to all are the pointed antennae, the horizontal position of 

 the wings in repose, the rounded or oval and inclosed pupse, and, with 

 some exceptions, the nocturnal habit. The moths are very conveni' 

 ently separated into ten families : Sphinx moths (Sphingid^e), 

 Clear-wings (^geriidje), Butterfly Mimics (Zyg^nid^), Spinners 

 (BoMBYCiD^), Owlet moths or Cut-worm moths (Noctuid^), Span- 

 worm or Measuring- worm moths (Geometridje), Snout moths (Pyra- 

 lidje), Leaf rollers (Tortricid^e), Fringe-wings or Tiueids (Tineid.e) 

 and Plume mothe or Feather-wings (Pterophorid^). Of these fam- 

 ilies the tirst six are sometimes collectively termed the Macro-lepidop - 

 tera, and the remaining four the Microlepidoptera. 



The ^gerians and Zygsenids are diurnal ; the Sphinx moths are 

 crepuscular — i. e., tiying in the twilight — while all the others are noctur- 

 nal. 



The Sphinx moths are so named from a habit of many of the larvje 

 when at rest, of raising the front part of the body and drawing in the 

 head, giving them a fanciful resemblance to the figures of the Sphinx 

 in Egyptian carvings and pictures. They are also called "hawk moths" 

 fi'om the strength of their narrow and pointed wings, and "humming- 

 bird moths" from their manner of hovering over flowers while extract- 

 ing the nectar. These moths have stout, smooth, spindle-shaped bodies, 

 and the fore wings are nearly twice the length and breadth of the hinder 

 pair, and close roof fashion over the body in repose. The antennte are 

 somewhat thickened in the middle, and in most species end in a hook. 

 The "tongue'' is remarkably long, often five or six inches, enabliag the 

 insects, while on the wing, to reach the deepest nectaries of the flowers 

 for which they have a preference, among which may be mentioned the 

 Daturas, Petunias, and other long-tubed blossoms. The larvte are cylin- 

 drical caterpillars with a roughened or granulated surface, generally of 

 some shade of green, and often with oblique stripes along each side, 

 and almost always have a pointed horn or an eye-like spot on the top 

 of the twelfth joint. With a few exceptions they enter the ground to 

 transform, and some species have an external tongue case which is 

 bent over like a jug-handle in front. 



The common tomato or tobacco worm {Sphinx qtiinquemaculata, 

 Haw.) and the Sphinx caterpillars of the grape vine are good examples 

 of this family. All the species are very voracious and destructive to 

 valuable trees and plants. 



