824 AMERICAN POMOLOGY 



OBDEE LEPIDOFTESA. 



The insects of this order are very numerous, and in their 

 larval or caterpillar state they are often very destructive. 

 In the perfect form of butterflies and moths, they commit 

 little or no depredations, because their jaws have been 

 transformed into a sacking apparatus. They consume, 

 in their perfect state, little else than honey. 



The order has been divided into three great sections : 

 Buttei-flies, Papiliones ; Hawk-moths, ^hinges; and 

 Moths, or Nocturnes. Of these, the ^geridce constitute 

 a very distinct family, resembling bees and wasps rather 

 than butterflies ; their caterpillars also differ, being borers, 

 and nearly naked. Butterflies are produced from cater- 

 pillars that are not generally very injurious to our crops. 

 Hawk-moths are large insects, and have great power of 

 flight ; their caterpillars are large and voracious. It is the 

 moths proper, a very numerous family, which do us the 

 most harm, and which will demand the largest share of 

 our attention. They vary much in size and appearance. 

 Some of tjie females are destitute of wings. 



The Arctians, or Woolly Bears, are a very numerous 

 division of the tribe of Bomhyces or Spinners, so called 

 from the name of the Silk-worm ; some of these will be 

 mentioned. 



Or^a leacostigma« or the Yaporer Moth, is a very 

 beautiful caterpillar, frequently seen upon our fruit trees, 

 though not confined to them. They feed separately, and 

 therefore we can best destroy them in the egg. Fortu- 

 nately, these may easily be found during the winter, for 

 the female, being wingless, never quits her cocoon, but 

 deposits the eggs in a mass upon the outside of it. The 



