14 



Fam. BOMBYX. Sec. CRYPTOPHASA. 

 Cryptophasa Pultence. PI. 13. 



SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION. 



Bombyx Ciiytophasa with silvery white wings, three black spots in the middle of the anterior, 

 and a row of the same colour at the end. Posterior wings in the male black, in the female 

 white, with a margin of black angular marks. Abdomen with a square mark of clear red at the 

 base. The whole insect smooth and glossy. 



The larva of this delicate moth, which we have named from the plant, is also 

 provident, having a dwelling, to which it conveys tender shoots of the plant 

 its food, in the stem of which our specimen had made its retreat by boring 

 downwards a cylindrical chamber in the centre of the stem, having the entrance 

 arched over with a fabric of web and excrement, under which the larva having 

 taken its food in its nightly excursions, feeds thereon during the day in secret 

 security; where also it changes to a pupa, in February, remains in that state 

 thirty-one days, and the moth is on the wing in March; and then inhabits 

 forests. The female is shown at 4; the male at 3; the pupa in a section of 

 its dwelling at 2; and the larva at 1. The plant is the Pultencea Yillosa of 

 Willdenow. 



Obs. All the larvae of the section Cryptophasa, which we have figured, seal themselves in by 

 an agglutinated covering across the cell or chamber, when they transform to pupae; through which, 

 however, the moth can force from below : yet it is a strong bulwark against external foes, and effec- 

 tually supplies the purposes of the old covering at the mouth of the cell, which falls off soon after 

 the larva's final retirement. We have named the section Cryptophasa from the secret and secure 

 manner in which this new and evidently natural division of moths live in the larva state: reflecting 

 on the singularity of which we are struck at the wonderful means of self-preservation which the 

 great Author of nature has bestowed on different members of the animal creation; among which 

 we know insects of every country abound with examples. Our author tells us, the great enemy 

 of which those larvae seem so cautious, is the mantis, or walking leaf, which abound in new South 

 Wales, devouring multitudes of larva; in the day-time. He also tells us the natives of that coun- 

 try seek those wood-boring caterpillars as a delicious article of food, climbing high trees, and 

 searching for them with great labour. 



