LEPIDOPTERA. 



223 



darker than the female, from which it differs also in having 

 a large yellow spot, which nearly covers the outer half of the 

 hind wings. This species flies in June and July. As sug- 

 gested by its name, it infests locust ; but its larva also bores 

 in the trunks of oak, poplar, willow, and other trees. It 

 is supposed that the species requires three years to com- 

 plete its transformations. 



The Leopard-moth, Zeiizera pyrina (Zeu-ze'ra py-ri'na) 

 is a large European species which has become common in 

 the vicinity of New York City, and will doubtless spread to 

 other parts of the country. It is white, spotted with numer- 

 ous small black spots. Its larva is very injurious, especially 

 to maple. It infests other shade trees, and also apple and 

 pear. 



Family EUCLEID^ (Eu-cle'i-dae). 



The Slug-cat er pillar Mollis, 



One often finds on the leaves of shrubs or trees elliptical 

 or oval larvae that resemble slugs in the form of the body 

 and in their gliding motion. As these are larvae of moths 

 they have been termed Slug-caterpillars ; but they present 

 very little similarity in form to other caterpillars. The re- 

 semblance to slugs is greatly increased by the fact that the 



Fig. 257. — Larva of Eulimacodes scapha. Fig. 258. — Euclea delphinii^ larva. Fig. 259. 



lower surface of the body is closely applied to the object 

 upon which the larva is creeping, the pro-legs being replaced 

 by mere swellings on the abdominal segments. Some 

 species are naked (Fig. 257) ; but many of them are armed 



