LEPIDOPTERA. 133 



Besides this benefit as pollen distributors, the moth known 

 as the Chinese silkworm moth, in its larval stage, furnishes 

 the raw material for the silk of commerce. 



Of course, the larvae do not all eat plants upon which 

 man depends. Many of them eat plants for which man 

 does not care at all, or plants which are actually injurious 

 so far as man is concerned; but the order has the unenviable 

 reputation of being more nearly uniformly injurious in 

 its larval stage than any other order. 



Some of the larvae that are commonly found are the 

 larvae of the sphinx moths, such as the penman, the 

 tomato worm, the tobacco worm; and also the regal moth, 

 the luna moth, the tent caterpillars, the handmaid moths, 

 the black swallow-tail, the well-know T n cabbage butterflies, 

 the monarch butterfly, the measuring worms, the plump 

 greasy caterpillars called cutworms, and the Noctuids, 

 moths that often fly into our houses after night, attracted 

 by the light. Taking these in their order: 



Penmarked Sphinx (larva). Greenish- or bluish- 

 white above, and on the sides of the body there are seven 

 yellow stripes placed obliquely and bordered above with 

 a dark green stripe. When disturbed, it throws up the 

 front end of the body in a threatening attitude ; this last 

 fact is common to many of the sphinxes. 



Tomato Worm. Much resembles the preceding 

 larva; is usually green, but some individual specimens 

 may be brownish and even reddish- brown. Its pupa 

 is often found and may be recognized by the curious 

 handle that curves backward and under the brown body 

 case. 



Tobacco Worm. Much the same as the larva just 

 described; the larvae are very similar but the adults are 

 distinguishable. 



