534 



THE HOUSE-BUILDER MOTH. 



cocoons amid the branches. The eggs are hatched in a similar manner to those of the 

 common silk-worm, and after being fed through their first moult with picked leaves, are 

 transferred to the trees, and there left. It is of course necessary to cover the trees with 

 netting in order to prevent the birds from feeding on such delicate morsels. 



The colour of the caterpillar is green, marked with black, except the head and the 

 last segment, which are yellow. The general colour of this moth is greyish yellow above, 

 with splashes and markings of dul) violet, black, and white. The transparent crescent is 



worthy of notice. The silk is 

 strong, and takes dye easily, but 

 does not possess the peculiar gloss 

 which has long been proverbial. 

 It is a truly fortunate circumstance 

 that this insect has been so oppor- 

 tunely brought into notice, as it is 

 wonderfully hardy, not subject to 

 many diseases to which the com- 

 mon and delicately constituted 

 silk-worm is liable, and being 

 apparently free from that strange 

 fungoid parasite which occasionally 

 commits such fearful ravages, and 

 has been known to depopulate a 

 whole district in a single night. 



An allied species, the EKIA 

 SILK- WORM (Attacus ricini), has 

 long been in use in many parts of 

 Asia, where it is cultivated by the 

 peasants, and affords them raiment 

 of a marvellously enduring charac- 

 ter, and yet sightly. Although the 

 cloth that is woven from the sLk 

 of this insect is loose and seem- 

 ingly flimsy of texture, it is so 

 wonderfully durable, that a gar- 

 ment is said to last during nearly 

 an entire lifetime. A large amount 

 f condensed information on tills 

 subject can be obtained from & 

 paper by F. Moore, Esq. in the 

 "Technologist" for July, 1862. 



THE family of the ArctiidsR. 

 so called because some of the hair- 

 covered larvse have a bear-like 

 look, is represented in England 

 by many examples, some being 

 really handsome insects, and others 

 remarkable for some peculiarity 

 in themselves or the larva*. 



PERHAPS the most curious example of this family is the species which is represented 

 in the accompanying illustration, and which derives its name from its habits. 



The HOUSE-BUILDER MOTH is common in many parts of the West Indies, and is in 

 some places so plentiful as to do considerable damage to the fruit-trees. As soon as the 

 larva is hatched from the egg, it sets to work in building its habitation ; and even before 

 it begins to feed, this industrious insect begins to work. The house is made of bits of 

 wood and leaves, bound together with silken threads secreted in the interior. When the 



HOUSE-BOILDEB MOTH. OlMiKus Seauttnn. 



