534 



THE HOUSE-BUILDER MOTH. 



their 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 color of the caterpillar is green, marked with black, except the head and the 

 last segment, which are yellow. The general color of this moth is grayish yellow above, 

 with splashes and markings of dull 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 occasion- 

 ally commits such fearful ravages, 

 and has been known to depopulate 

 a whole district in a single night. 

 An allied species, the ERIA 

 SILK-WORM (Attacus ricini\ has 

 long been in use in many parts of 

 Asia, where it is cultivated by the 

 ^^MKa^UHHBEV9^M?r^^w^ peasants, and affords them raiment 



of a marvellously enduring charac- 

 ter, and yet slightly. Although 

 the cloth that is woven from the 

 silk of this insect is loose and 

 seemingly flimsy of texture, it is 

 so wonderfully durable, that a gar- 

 ment is said to last during nearly 

 an entire lifetime. A large amount 

 of condensed information on this 

 subject can be obtained from a 

 paper by F. Moore, Esq. in the 

 " Technologist " for July, 1862. 



THE family of the Arctiidae, 

 so called because some of the hair- 

 covered larvae have a bear-like 

 look, is represented in England 

 by many examples, some being 

 really handsome insects, and 

 others remarkable for some pecul- 

 iarity in themselves or the larvae. 



HOUSE-BUILDER MOTH.-O/Jter/tus Sanders!!. 



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 



