BOMBTCID*.- 



-ISSECTS.- 



-NOCTUIP.E. 



203 



most valuable kind, being the Boinbyx mori, the com- 

 mon silk-worm being the larva of that species. Many 

 other moths belonging to this family are silk-producers, 

 particularly those belonging to the genus Attacus. To 

 this genus belong some of the largest moths, popularly 

 known as Atlas moths, and one of these is now being 

 domesticated in Algeria and Brazil in the same way as 

 the common silk-worm. This species is the Attacus 

 Cynthia. It feeds on the castor-oil plant. 



The " Procession moth " is worthy of notice, cramped 

 as we are for space. It is a common species in Ger- 

 many [Cnelhocampa processimiea). On its larva the 

 fine beetle, Colosonia sycophanfa, feeds. Fig. 160 

 shows the male and female. To this family also belongs 

 the great Goat-moth, so destructive to willow and elm 

 trees. Zeuzera ^sculi is also a destructive insect in 

 the larva state to elm, horse-chestnut, pear, and apple 

 trees. Fig. 101 shows the larva. 



Fig. 161 a. 



Some of the Australian case-makers are of a large 

 size. In fig. 103 is represented the case formed by 

 the larva of Oiketicus Saundersii. Tlie case is grey, of a 



Fig. 163. 



Social larvffiof (Eriogasterl.inestris)tlie Processionary motU feeding 

 on the lime tree. 



Fig. 101 a, represents the gregarious larvae of 

 Eriogaster lajiestris (the small Eggar) inhaliiting a 

 general nest, which (Ley occasionally enlarge, and from 

 which they issue at night iu search of food. 



F.wiiLY— PSYCHID7E. 



These are case-making moths. The females are 

 wingless, the legs, antennee, and organs of the mouth, 

 being almost entirely obliterated. A few small species 

 are found in this country. One, Oiketicus niyricans, 

 occurs in the New Forest. We give a figure of the 

 cases constructed by this insect in its larva state — 

 Fig. 102, p. 2G4. They are found attached to the 

 l.eath and gorse in May, when the moth appears. 



silky texture, and strengthened 

 or protected by the addition of 

 pieces of stick. At the lower 

 end is a flexible aperture, 

 through which the excrement 

 is discharged. Through a tube 

 at the upper end the larva 

 comes out to feed. These 

 cases are attached to various 

 shrubs. Similar cases are found 

 in South Africa. 



The generations of the female 

 Psychidse have been observed 

 to succeed each other, without 

 the production of or access to 

 the winged male, through seven 

 successive years. — (SeeSiebold 

 on Parthenogenesis.) Want of 

 space will not allow of further 

 reference to the genera of this 

 family. 



F.\5nLY-N0CTUID^. 



This is the most extensive of 

 all the families of Lepidoptera, 

 and to it belongs the bulk of 

 the night-flying moths, and 

 they are consequently aptly 

 named Noctuidce. In this 

 country alone upwards of three 

 hundred species are found. 

 The prevailing colours of our 

 indigenous species are sombre, 

 brown, black, grey, or those 

 intermixed occasionally with 

 ihill reds. Some of the exotic 

 species are much more highly 

 coloured. In this family the 

 body is robust ; the antennre 

 are usually simple; the fore 

 wings are narrow, under wliich 

 the hind pair are folded in re- 

 pose; the larvse are usually 

 Larva oioiitcticiis Saundersii naked, have sixteen legs, and 

 *" '^''^*' undergo tlioir transformation 



nrjder ground. To this fa- 

 mily belongs the common Yellow Undcrwing(r/v}Vja'na 

 Xiroimha), so frequent in gardens, in strawberry beds. 



