Insect Study 339 



LESSON LXXIV 

 The Promethea 



Leading thought — ^The promethea caterpillar fastens a leaf to a twig 

 with silk and then makes its cocoon within this leaf. The male and female 

 moths are very different in appearance. 



Method — ^This work should begin in the late fall, when the children 

 bring in these cocoons which they find dangling on the lilac bushes or 

 wild cherry trees. Much attention should be paid to the way the leaf is 

 fastened to the twig so it will not fall. The cocoons should be kept out 

 of doors, so that the moths will issue late in the spring when they can have 

 natural conditions for laying their eggs, and the young caterpillars are 

 supplied with plenty of food consisting of new and tender leaves. 



The Cocoon 

 Observations — i. On what tree did you find it? Does it look like a 

 cocoon? Does it not look like a dried leaf still clinging to the tree? Do 

 you think that this disguise keeps the birds from attacking it? Do you 

 know which birds are clever enough to see through this disguise ? 



2 . How is the leaf fastened to the twig ? Could you pull it off readily ? 

 What fastened the leaf to the twig? 



3. Tear off the leaf and study the cocoon. Is there an opening to it ? 

 At which end? What is this for? 



4. Cut open a cocoon. Is it as thick as that of the cecropia ? 



5. Study the pupa. Is it as large as that of the cecropia? 



6. Can you see where the antennae of the moth are? Can you see the 

 wing covers? Can the pupa move? 



The Moth 



1. Are there two kinds of moths that come from the promethea 

 cocoons? Does one of them look something like the cecropia? This is 

 the mother promethea. 



2. Are any of the moths almost black in color with wings bordered 

 with gray and with graceful prolonged tips to the front wings? This is 

 the father moth. 



3. Make water color drawings of promethea moths, male and female. 



4. If a promethea mother lays eggs, describe them. 



The Caterpillar 



1. How do the promethea caterpillars look when they first hatch 

 from the eggs ? Do they stay together when they are very young? How 

 do they act? Where do they hide? 



2. How do they change color as they grow older? Do they remain 

 together or scatter? Do they continue to hide on the lower sides of 

 leaves? 



3. What preparation does a promethea caterpillar make before 

 changing its skin? Why does it shed its skin? Does its colors change 

 with every change of skin? 



4. Describe the caterpillar when it is full-grown. What is its 

 ground color? What are the colors of its ornamental tubercles? The 

 color of its head? 



5. Describe how a promethea caterpillar makes its cocoon. 



