11 



Fam. BOMBYX. Sect. CRYPTOPHASA. 



CHARACTER OF THE SECTION. 

 PALPI curved up before the eyes, divergent, round and terminating in a point. 

 TONGUE short, or not at all discoverable. 



ANTENNAE filiform, in the males pectinated, and terminating in a thread at the extremity. 

 WINGS smooth, and generally glossy. 



Cnjptopliasa Irrorata. PI. 10. 



SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION. 



Bombyx Cryptophasa with dusky gray anterior wings, thickly speckled with hrown and white 

 dots, a conspicuous ear-like mark, and an angular patch of dark dots near the shoulder. Pos- 

 terior wings dark, with a silvery margin. 



The ova of this moth being deposited on the bark of the Casuarina figured, 

 where some braneh shoots from the stem; the larva, when bred, enters imme- 

 diately into the bark, boring downwards a cylindrical cell to the centre of the 

 stem, which it increases as it grows in bulk, and uses as a retreat and dwel- 

 ling-place, weaving over its entrance a convex covering, in which is inler- 

 Avoven the ends of leaves together with some of its excrement. See fig. 5. 

 This covering is fastened securehy at the upper end, while the lower is left in 

 such a manner that the larva can pass and repass at pleasure. After sun-set it 

 goes in search of food, which it conveys, a leaf at a time, to its dwelling, 

 where it is deposited by being dragged part down the cell: thus the larva 

 proceeds during the whole night, and on the approach of day retires with 

 precipitation to its retreat, where it lies with its head towards the entrance, 

 feeding on the leaves thus provided, and never ventures out during the day. 

 In this retreat the larva also changes to pupa, in January; spinning no web, 

 remains in that state fourteen days, and the moth is on the wing in Fe- 

 bruary. The male is shewn at 3; the female 4; the larva at 1; the pupa in 

 a section of its dwelling when in the larva slate, at 2; and the covering over 

 the entrance, shewing the ends of the leaves the larva has provided, at 5. 

 This species of Casuarina is found growing in barren forests, where also the 

 moth inhabits. 



