LEPIDOPTERA. 



259 



color, more or less spotted with black ; it expands about 

 half an inch. The common name is derived from the fact 

 that it has been very destructive in the province of Angou- 

 mois, France. 



Family SESIID^ (Se-si'i-dae). 

 The Clear-winged Moths or Sesiids (Se' si-ids). 

 The Clear-winged Moths constitute a very remarkable 

 family, many of them resembling bees or wasps in appear- 

 ance more than they do ordinary moths, a resemblance 

 due to their clear wings and in some cases 

 to their bright colors (Fig. 304). There are a 

 few moths in other families, as the Clear- 

 winged Sphinxes, and certain Zygaenids, 

 that have a greater or less part of the wings 

 devoid of scales ; but they are exceptions. Flc - a- 

 Here it is the rule that the greater part of one or both pairs 

 of wings are free from scales; hence the common name 

 Clear-winged Moths. 



These insects are of moderate size ; as a rule they have 

 spindle-shaped antennae, which are terminated by a small 



silky tuft ; 

 sometimes the 

 antennae are 

 pectinate ; the 

 margins of the 

 wings and the 

 veins of even 

 the c 1 ea r- 

 winged species 

 are clothed 

 with scales ; 

 and at the end 

 of the abdo- 

 men there is 



FIG. 305. Wings of Sanninn e.vi'tiota, female. 



a fan-like tuft of scales. 



The fore wings are remarkable for their extreme narrow- 



