S. drupiferarum J. E. Smith, a widely distributed species, feeds 
on apple, beach plum, wild cherry, hackberry, plum, and peach. 
White, pitch, red, and jack pines are fed on by the larvae of 
Lapara bombycoides Wlk. in eastern Canada and from the At- 
lantic Coast to the Mississippi River Valley. The larvae are 
present from July to September. Full-grown specimens are green 
except for a broad, brick-red, median, dorsal stripe; a reddish 
ventral stripe; and three longitudinal white stripes on each side. 
They are about 50 mm. long. Brick-red patches sometimes enclose 
the spiracles, and there is no caudal horn. L. coniferarum (J. E. 
Smith) feeds on pine in the same general territory. 
Aspen, willow, and sometimes apple and birch are fed on in the 
Atlantic States by Paonias excaecatus (J. E. Smith). Full-grown 
larvae are light green, studded with pointed granulations, and 
about 62 mm. long. There are seven oblique yellowish stripes 
running backward on each side of the body; the head is conical, 
granulated, and has a white or pale yellow stripe on each side, 
meeting at the apex. The spiracles are deep lilac or black; the 
caudal horn is usually green and nearly straight, and the thoracic 
legs are lilac or reddish. P. myops (J. E. Smith) larvae feed on 
black cherry in eastern United States. They have rose-colored 
spiracles; otherwise, they closely resemble the larvae of P. ex- 
caecatus. The larvae of Smerinthus jamaicensis (Drury) (=gem- 
inatus Say), feed on aspen and willow. They also resemble the 
larvae of P. excaecatus. They differ mainly in having a bluish- 
purple caudal horn, violet thoracic legs, and sometimes sub-dorsal 
rows of reddish spots on each side of the body. 
The walnut sphinx, Cressonia juglandis (J. EK. Smith), occurs 
from eastern Canada to Florida and westward to the eastern 
boundary of the Great Plains. The larvae feed on black walnut, 
butternut, the hickories, beech, and hop hornbeam. Full-grown 
larvae are light green to reddish, coarsely granulated with white, 
and about 50 mm. long. The head bears a yellowish stripe on each 
side and two rough, brownish projections on the apex. There are 
seven light-yellowish oblique stripes, sometimes bordered above 
with reddish, on each side of the body. The caudal horn is brown- 
ish and very granulated. There are two generations per year in 
the South. 
FAMILY SATURNIIDAE 
GIANT SILKWORM MOTHS 
This family contains some of the largest and most colorful 
moths in eastern United States. The larvae, also large and con- 
spicuous, are more or less armed with tubercles and spines. Be- 
cause of their habit of spinning large, dense silken cocoons in 
which to pupate, they are known as giant silkworms. The larvae 
feed on a wide variety of trees and shrubs; however, because they 
usually occur singly and in low numbers, they are seldom injuri- 
ous. Some of the most common species are discussed briefly below. 
The cynthia moth, Samia (=Philosamia) cynthia (Drury), was 
introduced into this country from Asia about 100 years ago and 
now occurs from Connecticut to Virginia. Its preferred host is 
297 
