LEPIDOPTERA 79 



by fumigation as for the clothes moth. (See page 231, 

 Part II). 



48. Sesiidae and Cossidae. Two families of moths have 

 wood-boring larvae but are otherwise distinct. The Ses- 

 iids are rather small, have very slender bodies and narrow 

 wings often almost entirely free from scales for which 

 reason the moths are commonly called the clear- wings; 

 many of them look much like wasps. The ever-present 

 and destructive Peach-tree Borer* is the most common mem- 

 ber of this family. Others are the Squash-vine Borer, the 

 Currant-borer, the Lilac-borer, a small species on maple, and 

 many others. There is no good remedy for these insects 

 when they are numerous. 



Cossidce are commonly called Carpenter Moths on ac- 

 count of the habits of the larvae. They are large, stout- 

 bodied, have rather long and narrow fore-wings and small 

 hind- wings. There are few species and they bore mostly 

 in locust and other shade and forest trees. 



The larvae in both the above families are typical cater- 

 pillars, usually white in color. The Cossid larvae are 

 sometimes somewhat hairy while the Sesiids are rarely 

 noticeably so. 



49. Noctuidae. This family is the largest in the order, 

 not in size of the individual but in the number of species 

 and of individuals. It also contains a greater number of 

 destructive forms than any other family. A few species 

 are quite large; others are as small as some of the " Mi- 

 cros/' but the great majority are of medium size. A few 

 are brightly colored and striking in appearance but many 

 more are of dull, inconspicuous colors. The great major- 

 ity of the moths, which are attracted to light and, under 

 the appellation of millers, invite our commiseration for 



* See page 297, Part II, peach-tree borers. 



