66 



THE CLEAR WINGED HUMMING SPHINX. 

 Sphinx Fusiformis. 



PLATE XXI. 



Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 803, No. 28 Sesia Fusiformis, Fab. 



Sp. Ins. ii. p. 156, No. 11 Don. Brit. Insects, vol. iii. 



p. 37, pi. 87. 



THE antennae are blackish brown ; the head and 

 thorax of a bright chrome yellow ; the body rich 

 brown, except the last segments, which are yellow ; 

 the abdomen is bearded with black ; the wings are 

 transparent, with a broad dark brown border. 



The caterpillar of this insect feeds on the wood 

 of willows, and is concealed within the solid sub- 

 stance of the trunk, in the same manner as the larva 

 of the- Sphinx apiformis and Sphinx tipuliformis 

 are concealed within the wood of a poplar, and 

 stalks of currant bushes. 



Fabricius describes the caterpillar as green, with 

 a lateral line of yellow, and having a red spine at 

 the end of the body. Harris says, that in the 

 winged state the fly is found in gardens, on flowers, 

 in May. Fabricius says it feeds on the honey- 

 suckle. 



It is a very rare insect, especially in Britain, 

 and has been found in Epping Forest. 



