INSECTS INJURING OAK-LEAVES 



161 



m(Eus or Heterocampa ; by the pale ashen bleached fore wiuga, the basal third of which 

 is very dark cinereous ; also by the linear obscure discal line, succeeded on the costa 

 by a white zigzag spot, and more especially by the square black spot near the in- 

 ternal angle, which is isolated from the submargino-apical dusky line, of which it 

 forms a part. Length of body, female, .90; expanse of wings, 2.15 inches. 



219. The American silk-worm. 



Telea polyphemus Hiibner. 



Feeding on the leaves in August and September, a large, fat, pale-green worm, as 

 large as one's finger, with pearly red warts, with an oblique white line between the 

 two lowermost warts ; the head and feet brown, and a brown V-sliaped line on the tail. 



The American silk-worm, not uncommonly met with on the oak, may 

 be artificially reared in great abundance on the leaves of this tree, and 

 the silk, reeled from the cocoons, can make a durable and useful cloth. 

 The large, thick, oval cocoons are attached to the leaves and fall with 

 them to the ground in autumn. The eggs are laid in June, when the 

 moths may be seen flying at night. It is one of our largest moths, ex- 

 paudiug from five to six inches, and is dull ocherous-yellow, with a large 



Fig. 53. — American silk worm, natural aize. — From Packard, after Trouvelot. 



transparent eye-like spot in the middle of each wing. It is not common 

 enough to be destructive. 



Fig 54.— Cocoon.— After Trouvelot. 



Fig. 55.— Pupa.- After Trouvelot. 



According to Abbot and Smith, in Georgia the caterpillar feeds on 



the black-jack and other oaks. "It buried itself July 12, and the moth 



appeared the 26th. Another went into the ground August 9, and 



came out the 24th. It likewise comes forth early in the spring, for I 



5 ENT 11 



