232 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



destructive to melons and other allied plants, destroying 

 both the foliage and the fruit. The moth is a superb 



Fig. T.'jd.—Margaro^iia hyalinata, larvae, cocoon, and adults. (From the Author's 



Report for 1879.) 



creature, with glistening white wings bordered with black, 

 and with a spreading brush of long scales at the end of 

 the abdomen. 



Family Pyralididje (Pyr-a-lid'i-dae). 



The Typical Pyralids {Pyr' a-lids). 



The moths of this family are distinguished from other Pyr- 

 alids, except the next family, by the absence of a fringe of 

 hairs on the basal part of vein VII of the hind wings ; and 

 they are distinguished from that family by the fact that veins 

 III4 and Illg of the fore wings are united at base (Fig. 277). 

 It is one of the smaller of the families of Pyralids ; fifty-four 

 species are now enumerated in our lists. 



