11 



ENTOMOLOGICAL C0:NTRIBUTI0NS. 



By E. B. Reed, London, Ont. 



1. The Io Moth {Saturnia lo). 



2. The Flat-headed Applb-tkeb Bober {('hrysobothris feinorata). 



3. The Locust Tree Borer (Clijt/us pictits). 



1. The Io Moth Saturnia {Hyper chiria) Io. [Fabr]. 

 Order, Lepidoptera ; Family, UoMBTciDiE. 



This lovely moth is well worthy a place in the cabinet of the collector, and from its bril- 

 liant colouring and conspicuous markings is always sure to attract notice and admiration. 



The moth belongs to a family which has received the name of " Bombyces " from 

 BomhijT the ancient name of the silk worm. As, liowever, it is in the larval or Caterpillar 

 state that this insect more frequently meets onr eye, we will begin by a description of it in 

 that stage. The full grown larva of which, fig. 1 is Fio. i. 



an admirable representation, is of a most delicate apple 

 or j.oa-grecn colour with a broad dusky white stripe 

 at each side bordered with lilac on the lower edge. 

 The body is covered with spreading clusters of green 

 bristles tipped with black. These bristles are exceed- 

 ingly sharp, and when the insect is handled will jiro- 

 ducc a very irritating sting similar to but much sh irper 

 than that of the nettle, and the cifect of which causes 

 a reddening of the flesh and the immediate appearance 

 of r:;ised white blotches which last for a considerable 

 time. Fig. No. 2 shews the appearance of these 

 bristles, some of them as h, being stouter ami more 

 acute than the others and able to inflict a sharper and 

 more penetrating sting. This stinging property is , 

 very curious and is not very easily explained ; Mr. C. 

 V. Riley writing of a very similar insect, the Saturnia 

 Miiic. says, " that the sting is caused by the prick of 

 the spines, and not by their getting broken in the 

 flesh. From the fact that the spines appear hollow, 

 one would naturally attribute their irritating power to some poisonous 

 fluid which they eject into the puncture. Hut I have been unable 

 to resolve any apical aperture, nor was Mr. Lintner more successful. 

 Hence I infer that the irritating property belongs to the substance of 

 which the spines are formed, and this opinion is strengthened by the 

 fact that those of a dead larva, or of a cast-off skin which has been in 

 my cabinet for several years, still retain the irritating power, though so 

 brittle that it is not easy to insert them." 



In the earlier stages the caterpillars are gregarious, feeding together side by side and in 

 going to and returning from their place of shelter, movin>r in regular files after the manner of 

 the processionary caterpillars of Europe {Cniommjni /iroccjtsioiim). This marching liabit i.« 

 so very peculiar that it is well worth describing. Though the in.socts move without beat of 

 drum they maintain as much regularity in their steps as a tile of soldiers. The celebrated 

 naturalist Reaumur, writing of the European Procession Moth says, " I kept some for a little 



