FOREST LIFE. 



189 



second generation, it is undesirable to keep the 

 cocoons during the winter months in a warm, dry 

 room, for there is apt to be insufficient moisture in 

 the air of such a room for the perfect development 

 of the insects. 



Classification of the Giant Silkworms. — The giant 

 silkworms, being the larvae of moths, belong to the 

 order Lepidoptera. These moths constitute the family 

 Saturniid^ (Sat-ur-ni'i-das). The scientific name of 

 each of the species mentioned below is given after 

 the popular name. The following are the more 

 common North American species : — 



The Io-moth, Automeris io {Au-tom'e-ris i'o). — 

 This is the most common of the smaller species of 

 the family. The female is represented by Fig. 152. 

 In this sex the ground color of the fore wings is 



Fig. 152.— The io-moth. 



purplish red. The male differs greatly in appear- 

 ance, being somewhat smaller and of a deep yellow 

 color, but it can be easily recognized by its general 

 resemblance to the female in other respects. 



