LIME HAWK-MOTH. Smerinthus 



DEATH'S-HEAD MOTH. Acherontia Atrapos. (Aucl larva. 



tremulous wing, and extracting the sweets by suction. In some cases, however, such as 

 the well known death's-head moth, the proboscis is very short, barely exceeding the length 

 of the head. In the long-tongued Hawk-moths the chrysalis is furnished with a distinct 

 horny case, in which the elongated proboscis can be packed during the period occupied in 

 development. In the genus Smerinthus the wings are sharp and angulated, and the 

 tongue is short. 



ONE of the commonest species of this genus is the LIME HAWK-MOTH, so called 

 becau-se the larva feeds on the leaves of the lime-tree. It is a green caterpillar, thick 

 bodied, covered with little protuberances, and upon each side are some whitish streaks 

 edged with red or yellow. Just at the end of the tail there is a short knobby 

 protuberance, and the fore part of the body is rather narrow. When the larva has 

 completed its time of feeding, it descends to the ground, and buries itself about eighteen 

 inches deep in the earth, whence the chrysalis may be extracted in the winter by the help 

 of a pickaxe and trowel. Beside the lime, the elm and birch are favoured residences of 

 tliis insect. The Lime Hawk-moth is shown in the curious attitude which it assumes 

 while in repose, the wings being held well away from the object to which it clings. 



Although very common in some places, it seems to be rather local, being scarcely if 

 ever found in many spots where the trees which it loves are abundant. About Oxford it 

 is extremely plentiful, and I have reared hundreds of the insects, both from the larva 

 taken from the trees, and the pupa obtained by digging. The colour is very variable, but 

 the general tints are leaf brown and green, with a few blackish spots and stripes, the 

 brown being towards the base and the olive-green towards the tips of the wing. 



