BOMBYX. By Dr. K. GRfNBERG. 189 



10. Family: Bombycidae. 



The typical representative of this small family, which is confined to the tropics and subtropics, is the 

 well-known silk-moth Bomhyx mori. All Bombycids are only of medium size, with densely hairy body and 

 short broad wings. The forewings have an often very deep sinus in the upper half of the outer margin, which, 

 in conjunction with the strongly convex distal portion of the costal margin, gives the apex a strongly sickle- 

 shaped appearance. In the venation the Bombycids resemble the Eupterotids and Saturnids. Vein 5 of both 

 wings originates in the middle of the discocellular vein, 6 to 10, or 7 to 10 are stalked; three inner margiiuil 

 veins present in both wings. Vein 8 in the hindwing connected with the cell by a transverse vein or touching 

 it in a point. The distal margin of the wings is usually distinctly dentate at the ends of the veins. Antennae 

 of both sexes with long pectinations, the branches only becoming shorter towards the tip. Palpi mostly small 

 and inconspicuous, or even altogether absent. Tongue also absent. Larvae elongate-cylindrical, clothed with 

 only very short hair, so that at first sight they appear naked. Thorax enlarged at segments 2 and 3, on segments 

 3, 5 and 8 there is a hump, on 11a small horn. Pupation takes place in a dense oval cocoon, from which the 

 raw silk is obtained in the silk-moth. 



As in the Eupterotids, no indigenous representative^ of the Bombycids is found in Europe or in the 

 entire Mechterranean district. The silk-moth too is only introduced from Southern Asia, being a domesticated 

 species. However, the family is represented by a few species in Eastern Asia. The systematic position of Da- 

 lailama bifurca Stgr. (30 b), described from Tibet, is still somewhat doubtful. 



1. Genus: ISoiub^'X Hbn. 



Antennae of (^ and $ with long pectinations. Palpi short, a mere remnant. Eyes naked. Frons smoothly 

 hairy. Body evenly hairy, abdomen conical in the cj, very broad, stout and clumsy in the $. Wings broad, 

 forewing triangular, costal margin first straight, only strongly curved before the apex, below the rounded but 

 projecting apex the distal margin is sinuate to vein 4, more deeply in the (J, more shallowly in the 5, the hind 

 portion of the margin straight, slightly dentate at vein 2, inner margin nearly straight; hindwing broad, distal 

 margin strongly curved and slightly dentate at the ends of the veins, anal angle also projecting. In the fore- 

 wing vein 2 from the middle of the cell, 4 from the lower angle of the cell, 5 from the discocellular vein just 

 below the middle, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 on a common stalk from the upper angle of the ceU, 6 close to the base of 

 the stalk, 7 and 8 as branches of equal length from the apex, and 11 close before the apex of the cell. In the hind- 

 wing vein 2 from the middle of the cell, 3 and 4 close together from the lower angle of the cell, 5 from the 

 middle of the discocellular vein, 6 and 7 on a short stalk from the upper angle of the cell, 8 free from the base, 

 connected by an oblique transverse vein with the anterior margin of the cell. Cell of both Avings closed. Disco- 

 cellular veins slightly concave. — Larva cylindrical, with very short sparse hair, only slightly longer in the 

 region of the anal legs ; segment 1 short and narrow, 2 and 3 broad and strongly dome-shaped, the whole anterior 

 end appearing stouter and somewhat swollen. Segments 3, 5 and 8 each with two small prominences, and 

 11 with a short horn. 



B. mori L. (= sinensis, croesi, fortunatus, textor, arracanensis all of Moore and Hutt., jjlana Walk.) mori. 

 (35 a). Mulberry Silk Moth. Body and wings whitish grey, pectinations of anteimae brown. Wings with distinct 

 or indistinct, sometimes even C£uite obsolescent brown markings, forewing with a lunule on the discocellular 

 vein, two parallel strongly curved antemedian transverse lines and an almost straight postmedian one, which 

 is generally the most sharply defined and accompanied by a dark shadow on the outer side ; also with a narrow 

 submarginal lunate line. Hindwing with a very constant longitudinally ovate spot in the middle of the iimer 

 margin and two parallel curved transverse lines, the space between them usually somewhat darker. — Larva 

 wliitisir'or yellowish grey to brownish grey, the dark shade being occasioned by indistinct, diffuse and always 

 undefined brownish or reddish spots. The incisions sometimes also dark. Humps on segments 3, 5 and 8 brown. 

 On segment 2 two black-brown spots connected by a wliite transverse hne and with white posterior edges, 

 in each of which stand two hght red spots at the ends of the white transverse Une. The larvae feed on the leaves 

 of the white mulberry (Morus alba), but wdll also take Scorzonera. The circular and rather flat eggs are first 

 dark yeUow, later grey; they hibernate. The pupa is hght brown, the cocoon greyish white or yellow, var3dng 

 from light sulphur-yellow with a greyish tinge to dark lemon-yellow, in the $ regularly oval, in the (J slightly 

 constricted in the middle, having nearly the shape of a sand-glass. By giving special food to the larvae cocoons 

 may be obtained which are distinctly green or red. Originally inhabiting India, the silk-moth was very early 

 imported into China and later into Europe, where it is now bred for industrial purposes, especially in Northern 

 Italy and Southern France. In the course of time a large number of varieties have been obtained, which are, 

 however, only domestic races, the result of artificial breecUng, and of no systematic value; we figure a gi-ey 

 form in both sexes on plate 35 as Bomhyx mori ah., this being known in the trade as fa. hrunnea Bang-Hnns 



