120 CATERPILLARS AND THEIR MOTHS 



cnotus, rare in the North, but the common form in the 

 South. It differs from myron in having the fore wings 

 brown instead of green aud gray-green. Both have 

 the hind wings of a bright tan-color, myroifs having a 

 green patch at the anal angle. 



In myron the body is gray-green, the patagia being 

 of the brighter green of the wing-patches. The an- 

 tennae are pale above and tawny beneath, and the legs 

 are gray-green. The tongue is about an inch long. 

 The moths fly rather early after dark, and are easy 

 to net. 



The caterpillars feed on cloudy days nearly all day, 

 and on sunny days begin to feed toward sunset. They 

 rest on the stem or midrib of the leaf when nearly full 

 growD, and bite the edge, so that the head only is seen, 

 unless one can go behind the vine, as on a piazza or 

 trellis. All these caterpillars make a slight noise in 

 eating, and we have often found them by hearing this. 

 The very young caterpillars cling to any vein of a 

 young leaf, and eat holes in the parenchyma, or green 

 part, until they are big enough to hold the edge of the 

 leaf and bite through the whole tissue. 



Orioles are verj^ destructive to them, and search our 

 vine by the hour, carrying off to their young many a 

 fine specimen which we would gladly have if it were 

 within reach. Gray squirrels also eat them with 

 eagerness. 



Myron caterpillars, when full grown or nearly so, are 

 more quiet than ahhot'n or inscripta, having none of the 

 petulant jerking motion when disturbed, and it may 

 be because of this that they are so often stung by 

 brac'onid flies. The fly pierces the caterpillar's skin 



