Saturniidae 



each joint than the posterior pair. The genus is quite large, but 

 only one species occurs in temperate North America. It is better 

 represented in the Old World. 



(i) Actias luna Linnxus, Plate XII, Fig. 7, $. (The Luna 

 Moth.) 



This common and well-known insect has an extensive range 

 from Canada to Florida and westward to Texas and the trans- 

 Mississippi States as far as the region of the great plains. The 

 larva, of which we give 

 a representation, feeds 

 upon the various species 

 of walnut and hickory, 

 the sweet-gum (Liqtii- 

 dambar), the persimmon 

 (Diospyros), and other 

 trees. In North Caro- 

 lina it appeared to be 

 particularly fond of the 

 persimmon. The cocoon 

 is thin and papery, spun 

 among leaves, and falls 

 to the ground in autumn. 

 In consequence it is not 

 nearly as often found as those of some other species, which 

 have been described in the preceding pages. 



Fig. 40. — Larva of ^4. tuna. (After Riley.) 



Genus TELEA Hubner 



This is a very small genus, including only two or three 

 species. It is confined to the New World. The only represen- 

 tative in our faunal limits is the well-known species, which we 

 figure. 



(i) Telea polyphemus Cramer, Plate IX, Fig. i, ?. (The 

 "^ Polyphemus Moth. ) 



Syn. paphia Linn^Bus; fenestra Perry; oculea Neumoegen. 



This very common moth feeds in the larval stage upon a 

 great variety of trees and shrubs. I have found the caterpillar 

 upon various species of oaks, upon the two species of Jiiglans, 

 which grow in the Eastern States, upon hickory, basswood, elms, 

 maples, birches, chestnuts, the sycamore (Platanus), wild- 



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