284 



APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY 



the outer margin of the wing where the color Hghtens somewhat outside a whitish 

 cross Une, and the outer margin is light-grayish with fine brown lines. Near 

 the apex of the front wing is a black "eye" spot, margined on the inner side with 

 blue. The female (Fig. 298) is brown with a triangular, white spot near the 

 center of each wing, a short distance outside of which the brown ends abruptly 

 in a very irregular edge against white which shades off into brown again. 

 The outer margin is as in the male and the eye spot is also present on the 

 fore wing. 



The caterpillar is pale green with very small black tubercles in pairs 

 above, except two pairs not far behind the head, which are coral-red and 

 larger than the others, and a yellow one above, near 

 the hinder end. The larvae feed on many kinds of 

 trees and shrubs, appearing to prefer the sassafras, 

 wild cherry and ash, and when through feeding, each 

 selects a leaf, the petiole of which it spins around, 

 fastening it in this way to the twig on which it 

 grew, so that it cannot drop off in the fall. It then 



Fig. 298. 



Fig. 299. 



Fig. 298. — Female Promethea Moth, about two-thirds natural size. {Original.) 

 Fig. 299. — Cocoon of the Promethea Moth, natural size. {From Britton, Thirteenth 

 Rept. Ent. Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta. 1913.) 



forms its cocoon with the leaf as a partial wrapping, drawing the edges around 

 the cocoon (Fig. 299). Here, in this hanging cocoon, swaying in the winds, 

 the insect passes the winter. 



The Japanese Silkworm Moth {Philosamia cynthia Dru.) was introduced 

 into the United States in a futile attempt to use its cocoons for silk. Some 

 of the insects escaped and this species is now occasionally captured in Southern 

 New England and the Middle Atlantic States. The moth (Fig. 300) spreads about 

 six inches and is of a rather rich shade of brown. ' On each wing is a large white 

 crescentic spot, edged in front by a black line, and a white band, shading on its 

 outer side into lilac, then into brown, crossing the wing, touches the outer angle 

 of the crescentic spot. On the front wing a white band runs from the inner 

 angle of this spot to the body and another to the costa or front margin of the 

 wing. On the hind wing a similar band curves across about halfway between 



