CHAP. XIII. FAMILIES OF LEPIDOPTERA. 



81 



* OWLET MOTHS (Noctuid-se). These moths usually have the 

 thorax or abdomen tufted; the head is not sunken into the 

 thorax, the palpi are stout and well developed, the antennae 

 are generally simple, and the wings are quite large. 



Fig. 211. 



Their caterpillars have from twelve to sixteen legs, and are 

 usually naked, but a few kinds are covered with hairs. The 

 greater number live exposed upon the leaves, but a few kinds 

 live within the stems of plants, in the ground, or in decayed 

 wood. .A few kinds spin cocoons, but the greater number 

 enter the earth when changing to pupae. 



Fig. 212. 



The Corn-worm and Moth (Fig. 209); the Stalk-borer and 

 Moth (Fig. 210); the Cabbage Plusia (Fig. 211); the Figure 8 

 Minor Moth and its caterpillar, the Bristly Cut-worm (Fig. 

 212), are examples of this Family. 



