THE ANIMAL LIFE OF THE GROUP. 397 



they hatch from the eggs, they march like an army to other fields. The worm 

 of the common species, which occurs in America and elsewhere, is an inch and 

 a half in length when full grown and is striped with black, yellow and green. 

 The adult moth is dull brown in color, marked in the center of each fore-wing 

 with a small distinct white spot. The two species of grass army-worms occur- 

 ring here are widely distributed, especially in the Pacific islands and con- 

 tinents. 



The Hau Moth. 



The hau moth "" is also a wide-ranging species occurring in Africa, south 

 Asia and Fiji. It can scarcely be separated by the layman from another more 

 local species. However, as it confines its depredations quite closely to the 

 hau and allied plants, it can be recognized as the small brown moth which 

 develops from the caterpillar that feeds so voraciously on the leaves of that 

 picturesque tree. Its principal enemy is an ichneumon fly that destroys them 

 by depositing its eggs in the 1iody of the caterpillar. 



LOOPERS. 



Several species of measuring worms or span worms, belonging to the 

 family Hijdriomenidce, occur in the islands. The koa is often attacked by 

 them and the trees seriously defoliated, but so far as known they are not a 

 serious economic pest. A species of the group Plusiadce, known as the corn 

 looper,"! or green garden looper or owlet moth, attacks wheat and corn and 

 other plants, often fraying the leaves to a considerable extent. 



The larviB of the kolu-bush moth "- are to be found in the pods wliich 

 follow the beautiful little golden ball-like blossoms. They feed upon the seed 

 and doubtless keep this thorny shrub from spreading as rapidly as it otherwise 

 would. 



The Silkworm. 



An exceedingly useful insect, long ago introduced into Hawaii, is the silk- 

 worm."-' The first specimens were imported by the missionaries with a view 

 to encouraging the natives to take up this form of productive occupation. The 

 experiment was given np, however, before anything definite came of it. Some 

 say that the pious and faithful observance of the Sabbath as tauglit by the 

 Christian fathers jjreveuted the natives from gathering the fresh leaves to 

 feed the worms on that day. 



More recent experiments have proved be.yond a doubt that silk of a good 

 quality can be produced in Hawaii with as little effort as in any silk country 

 in the world. The mulberry, especially the white mulberry,*"'* does well in 

 Hawaii. As the leaves of this plant are the favorite food of the worms, it is 

 anticipated that silk culture will yet flourish in the i.slands as one of tlie home 

 occupations for the employment of women and children. 



«2 CryiAophhhla ilU'indd. 



