INSECTS INJURING OAK-LEAVES 
161 
mceus or Heterocampa ; by the pale ashen bleached fore wings, the basal third of which 
is very dark cinereous ; also by the linear obscure discal line, succeeded on the costa 
by a white zigzag spot, and more especially by the square black spot near the in- 
ternal angle, which is isolated from the submargino-apical dusky line, of which it 
forms a part. Length of body, female, .90; expanse of wings, 2.15 inches. 
219. The American silk-worm. 
Telea polyphemus Hiibner. 
Feeding on the leaves in August and September, a large, fat, pale-green worm, as 
large as one's finger, with pearly red warts, with an oblique white line between the 
two lowermost warts ; the head and feet brown, and a brown V-shaped line on the tail. 
The American silk-worm, not uncommonly met with on the oak, may 
be artificially reared in great abundance on the leaves of this tree, and 
the silk, reeled from the cocoons, can make a durable and useful cloth. 
The large, thick, oval cocoons are attached to the leaves and fall with 
them to the ground in autumn. The eggs are laid in June, when the 
moths may be seen flying at night. It is one of our largest moths, ex- 
panding from five to six inches, and is dull ocberous-yellow, with a large 
Fig. 53.— American silk worm, natural size. — From Packard, after Trouvelot. 
transparent eye-like spot in the middle of each wing. It is not common 
enough to be destructive. 
Fig 54.— Cocoon.— After Trouvelot. 
Fig. 55. -Pupa.— After Trouvelot. 
According to Abbot and Smith, iu Georgia the caterpillar feeds on 
the black-jack and other oaks. "It buried itself July 12, and the moth 
appeared the 26th. Another went into the ground August 9, and 
came out the 24th. It likewise comes forth early in the spring, for I 
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