ENTOMOLOGY IN OUTLINE LEPIDOPTERA. 



73 



body and drawing back the head, giving them somewhat the resem- 

 blance of the Sphinx, from which they take their name. Some of the 

 largest of the 

 moths are found 

 in this family, 

 which includes 

 many genera and 

 species. 



FIG. t>5. White-lined Sphinx moth (Deilephila Iweata). Natural size. 



The family Sat- 

 urniidae includes 

 some of the largest 

 and most beauti- 

 ful of our moths, 

 and the Emperor 

 moth can be taken 



as a type of this family. The larva forms a cocoon of silk and the 

 insect is sometimes called the wild silkworm. Species of this family are 

 not uncommon in our State, although, being a nocturnal insect, it is not 

 so commonly met with as some of the day-fliers, and when found is some- 

 times considered as rare by the finder. One of the most striking mem- 

 bers of the family which is found here is the Samia cecropia. The larva 

 of this moth is a very large caterpillar, and is generally found on the 

 wild shrubbery, although it sometimes attacks fruit trees. Its favorite 

 fruit plant is the Cascara sagrada, or wild coffee, of our foothills. 



The family Ceratoeampidae comprises moths of large or medium size 

 which do not produce cocoons, but undergo their metamorphosis under- 

 ground. They are short-bodied and hairy, and usually beautifully 

 colored in tints. 



The family Syntomidse is of little interest to us, as its members are 

 more objects of curiosity to the professional entomologist than to the 

 producer, being in no sense of economic importance. They are small to 



FIG. 6(1. Caterpillar of white-lined Sphinx moth. Slightly enlarged. 



medium sized insects, diurnal in their habits, and frequent flowers. 

 Many of them strongly resemble wasps in their form and markings, and 

 are sometimes mistaken bv the uninformed for those insects. 



