154 



SATURNIA MAIA. 

 PLATE XVI. Fig. 1. 



Phal. (Bombyx) Maia, Drurrfs Exot. Ins.; Cramer •, Pap. Exot., 

 pi. 98, fig. A. — Bombyx Proserpina, Fair. Abbot and Smith's 

 Lepid. Georg., pi. 50 ; Encyc. Meih. 



This species is of comparatively small size, but it is 

 rendered very conspicuous by the strongly defined 

 character of its colours. It seldom expands much 

 beyond two inches and a half; head and antennas 

 black, the latter strongly pectinated. Wings thin 

 and filmy, nearly transparent, black, with a broad 

 white bar running across the centre; the anterior 

 pair having a half-formed eye on the inner side of 

 the white bar, and the posterior an angular black 

 spot on the white bar, before the middle. Thorax 

 light grey anteriorly, the other parts black ; abdo- 

 men likewise black, the extremity orange. On the 

 under side the abdomen is grey, with white spots at 

 the side, extremity orange. Legs black, thighs 

 orange. 



The caterpillar (Plate XVI. fig. 2) frequents the 

 red oak (Quercus rubra, Linn.), as well as other 

 American species of Quercus. They vary much in 

 colour, according to age. That figured on the plate 



