356 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



of the Promethea Moth in color and markings, and thus 

 differs decidedly from the male of that species. 



The Cecropia Moth, Samia cecropia (Sa'mi-a ce-cro'pi-a). — 

 This is the largest of our Giant Silk-worms, the wings of the 

 adult expanding from five to six and one half inches. The 

 ground color of the wings is a grizzled dusky brown, espe- 

 cially on the central area. The wings are crossed beyond the 

 middle by a white band, which is broadly margined without 

 with red. and there is a red spot near the apex of the fore 

 wing just outside of a zigzag line. Each wing bears near 

 its center a crescent-shaped white spot bordered with red. 

 The outer margin of the wings is clay-colored. The larva 

 is known to feed on at least fifty species of plants, including 

 apple, plum, and the more common forest trees. When full 

 grown it measures from three to four inches in length and is 

 dull bluish green in color. The body is armed with six rows 

 of tubercles, extending nearly its entire length, and there is 



an additional short row on each 

 side on the ventral aspect of 

 the first five segments follow- 

 ing the head. The tubercles on 

 the second and third thoracic 

 segments are larger than the 

 others, and are coral-red. The 

 other dorsal tubercles are yellow, excepting those of the first 

 thoracic and last abdominal segments, which with the lateral 

 tubercles are blue ; allare armed with black bristles. The 



Fig. 436. — Samia cecropia, pupa. 



Fig. 437. — Samia cecropia, cocoon. 



