297 



MOTHS. 

 SUB-ORDER—HETEROCERA. 



Characters.— (1) The antenna are varied in form, 

 Ijiit are not clubbed at the tip as are butterflies, 

 except in a few cases (Plate 36, Fig. 5.) (2) The 

 division between the tJiorax and abdomen is not 

 strongly marked. (3) The colours are more sombre 

 than tliose of butterflies, and moths fly more usually 

 at night. (4) A frenulum (Plate 39, Figs. 5 and 6) 

 or bunch of strong bristles (in female usually), or 

 a spine (in male) is borne at the base of the hind 

 wing on the front edge in most moths. It helps to 

 keep the wings on one side together, so as to act 

 as one large wing. 



Motlis are more numerous than butterflies. Most 

 species liave the long sucking mouth (Plate 38, Figs. 

 5, 6, 7). Some of the worst pests to man arc in this 

 group. The silkworm is a source of wealtli for the 

 silk woven from the silken cocoons. 



We shall notice some of the familiar motlis. 



Family Sphingidas— Hawk Moths (Plate 36). The 

 scientific name was given owing to the habit of the 

 larva, when resting, of drawing up its head and 

 the fore part of its body in a peculiar manner, 

 giving it a sphinx-like appearance. The term 

 '*hawk" is used probably on account of its keen, 

 swift flight, its clear-cut wings and body, and its 

 habit of poising over the flower when extracting 

 nectar. 



