342 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



the first molt, and the worm becomes lighter and lighter, 

 until in the last larval period it is of a cream-white color 

 There is a prominent tubercle on the back of the eighth ab- 

 dominal segment, resembling those borne by certain larvae of 

 the Sphingidae. 



There are many special treatises on this insect, some of 

 which should be consulted by any one intending to raise silk- 

 worms. 



Family Hemileucid;e (Hem-i-leu'ci-dse). 



The Hemileucids (Hem-i-lcu'cids). 



This is a small family containing rather large and con- 

 spicuously marked insects. The antennae are broadly pec- 

 tinated in the males and narrowly so or nearly serrate in the 



females. There is only a 

 single pair of teeth to each 

 segment of the antennae. 

 The thorax and abdomen 

 are usually thickly clothed 

 with long woolly hair; but 

 in some species the cloth- 

 ing of the antennae is less 

 woolly and more scale-like. 

 As to the wings, the frenu- 

 lum is wanting, the humer- 

 al angle of the hind wings 

 being largely developed 

 (Fig. 420) ; and in both 

 fore and hind wings veins 

 Vi and V 2 are joined to 

 radius by a common stalk. 

 Our best-known repre- 

 sentative is the Maia-moth, 

 Hemileuca mala (Hem-i-leu'ca ma'i-a). In this species (Fig. 

 421) the wings are thinly scaled, sometimes semi-transparent', 



FlG. 420. — Wings of Hemileuca maia. 



