GASTROPACHA. 233 



The BombycidcB, so called from Bombyx, the ancient name for 

 silkworm, inclose themselves in cocoons of silk in the larval state, 

 and hence are called spinners by the Germans. They are mostly 

 thick-bodied moths, with the antennae generally pectinated in both 

 sexes. The organs of the mouth are in an undeveloped state, the 

 thorax woolly, and the anterior legs often very hairy. The larvae 

 for the most part have tubercles mounted with tufts of hair, and 

 live exposed on plants. 



GASTROPACHA Ochs. 



Body thick. Head prominent. Proboscis obsolete. Palpi stout, 

 porrect, pilose, extending some distance beyond the head; third 

 joint less than half the length of the second, rounded at tip. 

 Antennae curved, a little shorter than the thorax. Abdomen gene- 

 rally extending more or less beyond the hind wings. Legs stout, 

 very pilose, hind tibiae with two very minute apical spurs. Wings 

 moderately broad, denticulated along the exterior border. Fore 

 wings nearly straight in front, slightly acuminated at the tips, 

 moderately oblique along the exterior border ; first and second 

 inferior veins almost contiguous at the base ; third rather remote 

 from the second, more remote from the fourth. Male. Antennae 

 rather deeply pectinated. Female. Antennae moderately pecti- 

 nated. 



1. G. americana. Figured in Smitli & Abbot, p. 101, pi. 51. / 



Color, reddish-brown; margins of anterior and' posterior wings 

 notched ; notches white ; behind the middle of each of the wings 

 is a pale band, edged with zigzag dark-brown lines, and there are 

 also two or three short irregular brown lines running backwards 

 from the front edge of the fore wings, besides a minute pale cres- 

 cent edged with dark brown, near the middle. In the female, the 

 pale bands and dark lines are sometimes wanting, the wings being 

 almost entirely of a red-brown color. 



United States. 



Harkis. 



