BOMBYCIDiE.- 
-IN SECTS.- 
-NoCTUIDiE. 
2G3 
most valuable kind, being the Bomhyx mori, the com- 
mon silk-worm being the larva of that species. Many 
other moths belonging to this family are silk-producers, 
particularly those belonging to the genus Attacus. To 
this genus belong some of the largest moths, popularly 
known as Atlas moths, and one of these is now being 
domesticated in Algeria and Brazil in the same way as 
the common silk-worm. This species is the Attacus 
Cynthia. It feeds on the castor- oil plant. 
The “ Procession moth” is worthy of notice, cramped 
as we are for space. It is a common species in Ger- 
many [Cnethocampa procession ea). On its larva the 
fine beetle, Colosoma sycophanta, feeds. Fig. 160 
shows the male and female. To this family also belongs 
the great Goat-moth, so destructive to willow and elm 
trees. Zeuzera zEsculi is also a destructive insect in 
the larva state to elm, horse-chestnut, pear, and apple 
’trees. Fig. 161 shows the larva. 
I'ig. 161 a. 
Social lai-vse of (Eriogaster lanestris) the Processionary moth feeding 
on the lime tree. 
Fig. 161 a, represents the gregarious larvae of 
Eriogaster lanestris (the small Eggar) inhabiting a 
general nest, which they occasionally enlarge, and from 
which they issue at night in search of food. 
Family— PSYCHIDiE. 
These are case-making moths. The females are 
wingless, the legs, antennae, and organs of the mouth, 
being almost entirely obliterated. A few small species 
are found in this country. One, Oilceticus nigricans.! 
occurs in the New Forest. We give a figure of the 
cases constructed by this insect in its larva state — 
Fig. 162, p. 264. They are found attached to the 
heath and gorse in May, when the moth appears. 
Some of the Australian case-makers are of a large 
size. In fig. 163 is represented the case formed by 
the larva of Oilceticus Saundersii, The case is grey, of a 
Fig. 163. 
silky texture, and strengthened 
or protected by the addition of 
pieces of stick. At the lower 
end is a flexible aperture, 
through which the excrement 
is discharged. Through a tube 
at the upper end the larva 
comes out to feed. These 
cases are attached to various 
shrubs. Similar cases are found 
in South Africa. 
The generations of the female 
Psychidae have been observed 
to succeed each other, without 
the production of or access to 
the winged male, through seven 
successive years. — (See Siebold 
on Parthenogene.ns.) Want of 
space will not allow of further 
reference to the genera of this 
family. 
Family— NOCTUID.®. 
This is the most extensive of 
all the families of Lepidoptera, 
and to it belongs the bulk of 
the night-flying moths, and 
they are consequently aptly 
named Noctiddce. In this 
country alone upwards of three 
hundred species are found. 
The prevailing colours of our 
indigenous species are sombre, 
brown, black, grey, or these 
intermixed occasionally with 
dull reds. Some of the exotic 
species are much more highly 
coloured. In this family the 
body is robust ; the antennse 
are usually simple; the fore 
wings are narrow, under which 
the hind pair are folded in re- 
pose; the larviE are usually 
Larva otOiketicus Saundersii naked, have sixteen legs, and 
undergo their transformation 
under ground. To this fa- 
mily belongs the common YellowUnderwing(Trfp/iCBna 
pronubd)! so frequent in gardens, in strawberry beds, 
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