24 



ZOOLOGY 



larvae live in stems of squash, cucumber, etc., and bore 

 into shrubs and trees (Fig. 22). 



The Arctiidae, 1 or Tiger-moths, are for the most part con- 

 spicuously striped or spotted. The larvse are very hairy. 

 The best known is the furry, brick-red and black Isabella 



caterpillar, which can be seen 

 during October in New Eng- 

 land, hurrying nervously in 

 search of winter quarters. 



The Bombycidse 2 include, 

 as a rule, large and thick- 

 bodied moths. Here belong 

 the silkworm moths the 

 only moths of use to man. 

 Of these, Bombyx mori 3 is 

 the most generally employed 

 in the manufacture of silk. It 

 originally came from China, 

 feeds on the leaves of the 

 white mulberry, and is reared 

 chiefly in China, Japan, Italy, 



FIG. 22. Larva of one of the Sesiidse 

 boring in stem. Nat. size. Photo, 

 by V. H. L. 



and France. The method of 

 culture is as follows : The 

 eggs ( u grains ") are laid in the autumn, kept over winter 

 in a dry, airy, and cool place, and hatched when the mul- 

 berry begins to send out its leaves. On these leaves 

 the larvse are put to feed, and after a month they begin 

 to spin. For commercial purposes the larvae are induced 



1 From dp/cTos, bear. 



2 Bombyx-like. Aristotle called the rustling silk /36/x/3os ; hence the 

 name Bonibyx for the silkworm. 



3 morus, a mulberry tree. 



