202 



INSECT LIFE. 



contains a colony of larvae — the young of a moth of 

 the genus Ichthyura, of which there are several spe- 



FlG. 167. — Eggs, larva, and nest of a mocha-stone moth. 



cies in this country. The moths are brownish gray, 

 with the fore wings crossed by irregular whitish 

 lines (Fig. 168). It was these peculiar markings, re- 

 sembling somewhat those of a moss-agate, that sug- 

 gested the popular name given above. In the case 

 of our most common species, the 

 nests are found in midsummer 

 or later. The larvae, when 

 young, feed within the nest, but 

 when they become large they 

 leave the nest at night to feed on 

 other leaves. The cocoons are 

 made under leaves or other rub- 

 bish on the ground, and the adults do not emerge 

 until the following summer. These insects can be 

 easily bred by placing a nest in a breeding cage and 

 putting fresh branches of the food plant next to the 

 nest as often as necessary. 



The Silver-spotted Skipper, Epargyreus tityrus 

 (Ep-ar-gy' re-US tit'y-rus). — If one will lie on his back in 



Fig. 168. — A mocha-stone 

 moth. 



