34^ THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



those on the third, are long and curved. These caterpillars 

 eat the leaves of forest-trees, and go into the ground to trans- 

 form, which they do without making cocoons. The rings of 

 the pupa bear little notched ridges, the teeth of which, to- 

 gether with some strong prickles at the hinder end of the 

 body, assist it in forcing its way upwards out of the earth. 



This is a small family ; it is not represented in Europe, 

 and less than twenty species are known to occur in this 

 country. The more common ones are the following : — 



The Regal-moth, Citheronia regalis (Cith-e-ro'ni-a re-ga'- 

 lis). — This is the largest and most magnificent of the Royal- 

 moths (Fig. 424). The fore wings are olive-colored, spotted 

 with yellow, and with the veins heavily bordered with red 

 scales. The hind wings are orange-red, spotted with yellow, 

 and with a more or less distinctly marked band outside the 

 middle olive. The wings expand from four to six inches. 



When fully grown the larva measures from four to five 

 inches in length. It is our largest caterpillar, and can be 

 readily recognized by the very long spiny horns with which 

 it is armed. Those of the mesothorax and metathorax are 

 much longer than the others. Of these there are four on 

 each segment ; the intermediate ones measure about three 

 fifths inch in length. This larva feeds on various trees and 

 shrubs. 



The Imperial-moth, Basilona imperialis (Bas-i-lo'na im- 

 pe-ri-a'lis). — This moth rivals the preceding species in 

 size, expanding from four to five and one half inches. It 

 is sulphur-yellow, banded and speckled with purplish brown. 

 The full-grown larva (Fig. 425) measures from three to 

 four inches in length. It is thinly clothed with long 

 hairs, and bears prominent spiny horns on the second and 

 third thoracic segments. In the early larval stages these 

 thoracic horns are very long and spiny, resembhng those of 

 the larva of the Regal-moth. The larva feeds on hickory 

 butternut, and other forest-trees. 



The Two-colored Royal-moth, Sphingicampa bicolor 



