[ 55 ] 

 PLATE XXV. 



SPHINX API-FORMIS. 



Bee Hornet Sphinx. 



GENERIC CHARACTER, 



Antennae thickeft in the middle. Wings, when at reft, defiexed. 

 SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Wings tranfparent, with brown veins. Abdomen yellow, the firft 

 and fourth divifion from the thorax dark, purplifh. Thorax brown, 

 with two yellow patches in front. Head yellow. Antennae dark brown* 

 Linn. Syji. Nat. 



The Caterpillar of the Sphinx Api-formis is an internal feeder, and 

 found only by making an incifion into the innermoft fubftance of the 

 Poplar, the only tree the female commonly depofits her Eggs on ; it 

 is to us unknown, as is alio the time of continuing within the trunk 

 of -the tree j but in June, early in the morning, or in the evening, 

 the Chryfalis is feen ifluing through the bark, from a perforation in the 

 trunk, which the Caterpillar had formed previous to its change, gene- 

 rally to the depth of fix or 'eight inches, or more. Nature has 

 furnifhed every fegment of the Chryfalis with a double row of fharp 

 teeth, or fpines, therewith it firmly attaches itfelf to the fides of the 

 cavity, and, by repeated exertions to break from its prifon, gradually 

 comes forth ; thus, when it hath extricated itfelf from the tree, and the 

 Chryfalis is fuppoited as in our Plate reprefented, the upper parts burft 

 afunder with violence, and the infect rufhes forth to enjoy " the tem- 

 perature of the fummer feafon." It is rarely found except in Effex. 



K There 



