404 LEPIDOPTERA 



harmonises most perfectly with the hairy locl<:s of tlie caterpillar 

 covering the cocoon. The latter is, consequently, not easily 

 detected, even when placed upon the exposed and upturned 

 surface of the leaf" 



The cocoons of Limacodidae are unusually elaborate, the 

 larva forming a perfect lid in order to permit itself to escape 

 when a moth. Chapman states that the larva lies unchanged 

 in the cocoon all winter, moulting to a pupa in the spring, and 

 that the pupa escapes from the cocoon previous to the emergence 

 of the moth.^ Both Chapman and Packard look on the family 

 as really nearer to Microlepidoptera than to Bombyces ; Meyrick 

 (calling ■ it Heterogeneidae) places it at the end of his series 

 Psychina next Zygaenidae. 



We may allude here to the little moths, described by West- 

 wood under the name of Epipyrojis^ that have the extraordinary 

 habit of living on the bodies of live Homopterous Insects of the 

 family Fulgoridae in India. What their nutriment may be is 

 not known. The larva exudes a white fiocculent matter, which 

 becomes a considerable mass, in the midst of which the caterpillar 

 changes to a pupa. Westwood placed the Insect in Arctiidae ; 

 Sir George Hampson suggests it may be a Limacodid, and this 

 appears probable. 



Fam. 27. Megalopygidae (or Lagoidae). — The American 

 genera, Megalofyge and Lagoa, are treated by Berg and by 

 Packard ^ as a distinct family intermediate between Saturniidae 

 and Limacodidae. The larva is said by the latter authority to 

 have seven pairs of abdominal feet instead of five pairs — the 

 usual number in Lepidoptera. When young the caterpillars of 

 Lagoa opercularis are white and resemble a flock of cotton wool. 

 When full grown the larva presents the singular appearance of 

 a lock of hair, moving in a gliding, slug-like manner. Under 

 the long silky hair there are short, stiff, poison -hairs. The 

 larva forms a cocoon, fitted with a hinged trap -door for the 

 escape of the future moth. This curious larva is destroyed by 

 both Dipterous and Hymenopterous parasites. 



Fam. 28. Thyrididae. — A small family of Pyraloid moths, 

 exhibiting considerable variety of form and colour, frequently 

 with hyaline patches on the wings. They are mostly small 



1 Tr. cnt. Sue. London, 1894, p. 348. ^ O^J. cit. 1876, p. 522 ; and 1877, p. 433. 

 ^ P. Amer. Phil. Soc. xxxii. 1894, p. 275. 



