90 A BOOK OF INSECTS 



allied family (Eupterotidoe) includes the European " pro- 

 cessionary " moth (Cnethocampa processioned). 



The family Saturniidos includes some of the largest 

 known moths, such as the Indian atlas moth {Attacus 

 atlas). There is only one British representative — the 

 emperor moth (Saturrria pavonia). In this family the 

 pupa is always enclosed in a dense silken cocoon, which 

 in some cases is commercially valuable. 



The remaining families of Lepidoptera comprise the 

 species which are known popularly as butterflies. 



The skippers (Hesperiidce) are stout -bodied insects 

 which are found in all parts of the world, except Green- 

 land and New Zealand. There are eight British species. 

 All six legs are well developed in both sexes. The cater- 

 pillar spins a slight silken cocoon before changing to the 

 pupa. 



The blues, coppers and hairstreaks (Lycccnidtc) have all 

 six legs well developed in both sexes, except that the front 

 tarsi are shortened in the males. The caterpillars are short 

 and hairy, somewhat like wood-lice in shape. The pupa 

 is also clothed with short hairs or bristles. It is usually 

 attached by a cremaster (page 18) to a silken pad, and 

 is often girdled by a silken thread. A closely allied 

 family, the Lemoniidce, in which the fore-legs of the males 

 are greatly reduced and useless for walking, comprises an 

 enormous number of brightly coloured species, most of 

 which are indigenous to tropical America. The only 

 British representative is the Duke of Burgundy fritillary 

 (Nemeoblus lucind). 



The Libytheidce— often called snout butterflies because 

 their elongated palpi project beyond the head like a snout 

 — have a wide geographical range, but are not found in 

 Australia. A single species {Libythea celtis) occurs in 

 Europe, though not in Britain. 



