39 2 



The Moths and Butterflies 



marked with red or orange, and with the hind legs fringed with long hairs, 

 orange on the outer surface and black on the inner. When full grown the 

 larvae leave the stems and go into the soil to cocoon and pupate. The genus 



FIG. 558. 



FlG. 558. The ash-tree borer, Trochilium jraxini. (After Lugger; natural size.) 

 FIG. 559. Sesia pictipes, male. (After Lugger; natural size.) 



Sesia (Fig. 563) contains over half (fifty-seven) of the species in this family; 



they are found in all parts of the country. 



The family Notodontidae, comprising the puss-moths, handmaid-moths, 



and prominents, is represented in 

 this country by about ninety-five 

 species, all of medium size, i.e., with 

 a wing expanse of from ij to 2 

 inches, and but few of such marked 

 patterns as to be particularly con- 

 spicuous or attractive to collectors. 

 The name " prominents," sometimes 

 applied collectively to the moths of 

 this family, is based on the occur- 

 rence in some of them of an angu- 

 lated or tooth-like projection near 

 the middle of the hinder margin of 

 the fore wings. Probably the most 

 familiar species in this family are 

 the Datanas, or handmaid-moths; 

 certainly their larvae are more often 

 seen and are better known, under 

 the names of yellow-necked apple- 

 tree caterpillars and walnut cater- 

 pillars, than the larvae of any other 



Notodontids. Sometimes there may be seen on the trunk of an apple- or 



other shade-tree an animated bunch or mass of hundreds of caterpillars, 



FlG. 560. Venation of a Notodontid, Noto- 

 donta stragula. cs, costal vein; sc, sub- 

 costal vein; r, radial vein; m, medial 

 vein; c, cubital vein; a, anal veins. 

 (After Comstock; enlarged.) 



