MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 437 



plume-moths, have long, slim bodies and legs ; and most of the genera are remark- 

 able for having their wings divided into lobes or feathers. The caterpillars are some- 

 what fusiform or spindle-shaped, and have sixteen legs. Each segment bears a num- 

 ber of protuberances, from each of which arise several hairs vai'ying in length. Many 

 of these hairs are hollow, and are connected with glands beneath, which secrete a vis- 

 cid fluid that fills these tubular hairs, and exudes through an opening in the top, in a 

 dew-like drop, as stated by Dimmock. This clothing of the caterpillars frequently 

 causes them to resemble so closely the hairy plants upon which they feed, that they 

 are usually overlooked, except by the practised eye. The function of these glandular 

 hairs may be protective in some way. These caterpillars do not spin a cocoon in 

 which to pass their transformations, but simply attach themselves to a leaf or other 

 object by their anal feet, and change to pupse which are naked in some species but 

 hairy in others. Some of these moths fly in the daytime, while others are on the wing 

 only by night. The greater part of them are somewhat sluggish in their habits ; and, 

 when one is " flushed," a diligent search should be made, for others are almost certain 

 to be found in the vicinity. 



The insects associated in this family may be classed in three groups, according to 

 the division of their wings. The highest group is composed of species which have 

 undivided wings, and includes the European genus Agdistis, the South American 

 genus Stenoptycha, and the North American genus Scoptonoma. The insects of this 

 group have some resemblance to the Pyralidse. In the next group the moths have the 

 fore-wings divided into two lobes and the hind wings into three. By far the greater 

 number of the species fall into this group, and are divided into several genera on 

 structural differences, such as the form of the lobes of the wings, the presence of a 

 frontal tuft of hairs, the form of the legs, etc. In the lowest group, the wings are 

 each divided into six lobes, and it includes only the genus Alucita. 



Alucita hexadactyla of Europe and America expands about half an inch, and has 

 each wing divided into six lobes or feathers, which are rounded at the apex and cili- 

 ated on both edges. They are of an ashy color with dark-brown markings and a black 

 dot at the end of each lobe. The caterpillars are reddish pink or salmon colored, 

 changing to yellowish white just before transforming to pupae. They feed on the 

 flowers of honeysuckle, and have but one brood in a year. The moths hibernate dur- 

 ing the winter. 



The gartered plume-moth {Oxyptilus periscelidactylus) is a representative of the 

 second group, having the fore- wings divided into two lobes and the hind-wings into 

 three. The wings expand about seven-tenths of an inch, and are of a yellowish-brown 

 color, marked with dull, whitish streaks and spots. The mature caterpillar is about 

 half an inch in length, of a yellowish-green color, with a transverse row of yellowish 

 tubercles, from each of which arises a small tuft of white hairs. When done feeding, 

 it spins a few silken threads on the under side of a leaf, to which it 

 attaches the anal feet, and transforms to a rough, angular-looking pupa, 

 which is pale yellowish green at first, but becomes reddish brown at a 

 later period. These caterpillars feed on the grape, drawing together 

 the terminal leaves, and living within the enclosure, either one alone, or fig. 656.—Ptero- 



_ , , , . plmrus. 



two or three together. Only one brood occurs m a season. 



Pterophorus monodactylus is a very widely distributed species occurring through- 

 out Europe and western Asia, as well as in all parts of North America. The wings 

 of this variable species expand nearly an inch, and are white, sprinkled with blackish 



