THE CUP MOTH. 143 



CHAPTER XCI. 



THE MOTTLED CUP MOTH. 

 (Doratifera vulnerans, Lewin.) 



THE PAINTED CUP MOTH. 

 {Limacodes longerans. ) 



The vernacular name of the Cup Moths has been 

 adopted on account of the singular woody and cup- 

 shaped cocoon, so well known by reason of the little lid 

 which forms the cocoon into a sort of miniature casket. 



The moths of this group are sturdy creatures for their 

 size, and are clothed with hairs of a brownish color, the 

 females being as our plate will show much larger 

 than the males. The larvae of these moths are most 

 singular creatures, being flat and soft on the under side, 

 and raised, saddle-like, on the upper side, the upper 

 part being partly covered with clusters of spines much 

 after the shape of the well-known "Sea Anemone." 

 These spines can be withdrawn at the pleasure of the 

 insect, and, when handled by the incautious, produce a 

 sharp, stinging sensation ; and, on this account, the 

 larvae have earned for themselves the name of 

 " stingers," by which term they are well known to 

 schoolboys and others living in the rural districts of the 

 State. 



The larvae of these Cup Moths cannot well be 

 mistaken for those of any other moth, their curious 

 appearance, flat shape, and bright green and yellow 

 colors being well known to those having forest matters 

 in their charge. 



Of late years especially the larvae of the Cup Moths 

 have been strongly in evidence as some of the worst 

 enemies of our forest trees. A few years ago my 



