5^ 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



THE AILANTHUS SILK-WORM. 



(Attacus \^Sa»iia] cynthia.) 



[In the last number of Science News, a worthy monthly, 

 the discontinuance of which we regret, we gave some account 

 of the Ailanthus Silk-worm, and herewith reproduce portions 

 of the article. — Ed.] 



The serious failure of the French silk 

 crop the present year has caused renewed 

 attention to be paid to other silk produc- 



[Fig. 



twisting of several of the simple threads to- 

 gether. The difficulty in thus twisting or 

 combining several threads of this silk has 

 in the past proved the greatest hindrance 

 to successful ailanti-culture. In view of 

 the renewed interest manifested in the sub- 

 ject, an account of the insect will prove 

 timely, and interesting. 



16.] 



Attacus cvnthia : — a, eggs ; b, larva ; c, cocoon ; d, chrysalis ; e, female moth (after Riley). 



ing worms. A recent article in the London 

 Times draws attention to the fact that one 

 of the principal difficulties in the way of 

 utilizing the silk of the Ailanthus silk- 

 worm has been removed by a device in- 

 vented by M. Le Doux, that facilitates the 

 unwinding of the cocoon and permits the 



The Ailanthus silk-worm is the only 

 species of the different worms which have 

 been introduced from Asia, either into 

 Europe or America, which has proved of a 

 hardy nature ; or which has become fully 

 acclimated. The vigor of its constitution 

 may be likened to the characteristics of 



