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CHAPTER III. 



ON THE FOOD OF MOTHS. 



THE food of the Phalaena next demands our 

 attention. The Tinea resinella and the Minute Moth 

 feed on the resinous or other excretations, exuded 

 from trees ; others of the Tinea eat only the paren- 

 chyma, never touching the cuticle. The Noctiia 

 ockraceaga eats the pith alone, while others select 

 the pollen and honey secreted in the nectaries. The 

 larvae of different Tinece, as before observed, feed on 

 wool ; but it is wisely ordered by nature* that 

 unwashed wool is never touched by them. The 

 Tinea described by Reaumur, devours the highest 

 perfumed chocolate ; and the Wax Moth caterpillars 

 will, for want of that substance, eat paper, wool, 

 wafers, &c. The larvae which feed on vegetables, 

 seem to be less general in satisfying their appetites, 

 although it is likely they can subsist on various kinds 

 of food in cases of necessity. Many species of 

 lepidopterous larvae are polyphagous, feeding on 



