128 
LYMANTRIIDAE. General Topics. By Dr. A. Seitz. 
These numbers, however, do not supply a distinct survey of the grographical range of the whole family. 
In order to obtain this, it is necessary to ascertain what part the Lymantriidae play compared to the other 
lepidoptera. On considering this we find that the number of their individuals increases the more as the other 
Heterocera decrease at the verge of animal life, at, the borders of deserts bare of vegetation, to the north 
in Greenland, in Central Australia being poor of lepidoptera the Lymantriidae appear as the most predominant, 
if not only representatives of the lepidopteral tribe. In Egypt, where there are almost hardly any trees, besides 
the Psychidae which exhibit a similar behaviour, the Ocneria and Orgyia are still able to propagate to such 
an extent as cannot be excelled in the best tempered districts of Central Europe, and in Algeria the last 
trees and bushes far out in the oases of the desert are sometimes for years entirely stripped by the larvae 
of Lymantria dispar and Orgyia isolatella. On the Southern Australian coast, which is very poor of lepidoptera, 
the Anthelinae predominate not only by their great number, but also their large size. The larvae of Chalepteryx 
collesi and T. ruptimacula, the Darala and the Epicoma, which are closely allied to the Lymantriidae, may be 
found in all the forests in the corresponding seasons, many of their species also in great numbers, where other 
moths seem to have disappeared altogether. Moreover, dial, collesi -$, which we figured in Vol. X, pi. 46 e, 
is, besides some Cossulcie and an old Sphingid group, almost the largest lepidopteron of Southern Australia, 
with an expanse of almost 20 cm. The same predominance of the Lymantriidae is to be found high up north. 
Where the last moth disappears, it is replaced by a Lymantriid which even rather frequently advances to the 
arctic region, in the same way as its family-members to the scorching desert. On the contrary, we very rarely 
meet with a Lymantriid in the tropical parts of South America, which are crammed with lepidoptera; few 
and small species form there the only representatives of the group and they appear there in relatively very 
small numbers. In nights favourable for capturing lepidoptera thousands of Heterocera may come to the lantern, 
without any Lymantriid being noticeable among them. In the most luxuriant districts of Ceylon or in the abun¬ 
dant fauna of the Nilgiri Hills hardly more species of Lymantriidae are to be found than in Japan which has a 
much rawer climate and is much poorer in animals. And in the palearctic region itself we find in the faunistically 
well developed districts of Central Europe hardly more than 10 species of the family; fewer than in the mostly 
desert regions of Algeria, and much fewer than in the eastern parts of Siberia, where it is cold in winter and 
wet in summer. 
This geographical behaviour is suggestive of a case parallel with those families of Heterocera which 
we are used to regard as phylogenetically old ones. It is the same behaviour we notice in the Psychidae, Cossidae, 
and partly Hepialidae. In the heart of Central Australia, where besides Lymantriidae but very few large rnosths 
occur, these families take the first place attaining a size and striking character which is hardly attained in 
tropical regions being the richest in animals by Danaidae, Papilionidae or any other quite modern family. 
This also accounts for the absence of a proboscis in all the Lymantriidae. They have nothing whatever 
to do with flowers which belong to a modern period of creation. Nor can they be called heliopliile, though the 
OS °f some species are fond of swarming in the sunshine; on the contrary, the enormous host of Lymantriidae 
are known to inhabit the forests, and only the species being very universally distributed are met with in wooded 
districts outside of the forests. 
The larvae are well protected by brushes and pencils of hair which are often of a most inflammatory 
effect. Moreover, the infundibular glands are to be mentioned (vid. Vol. II, p. 109), with which the larvae 
often bring their hair into touch by peculiar rocking movements and contortions. According to Fr. Scriba 
(Tokio), these hairs which are loosely attached to the web even pass over to the imago just crept out the 
ruffled hairing of which on the thorax and at the hind-margin of the wings retains yet such larval hair for 
the present. 
Besides, however, the imagines of the Lymantriidae evidently have no interior protection. They have 
an immense number of enemies, both reptiles as well as birds, particularly rearmice, being so much after them 
that, where the latter occur in a particularly great number as in North Africa, the Lymantriidae which are 
the most frequent visitors of the lantern, are snatched away there to the last specimen. Many species therefore 
also only fly when it is very dark, and late at night. 
Those Lymantriidae the SS of which swarm in daytime have a very wavering or rocking flight which 
makes it difficult for both man and animal to capture them. Whosoever tries, with a net that is not large, 
to catch an Orgyia being on its wedding-flight will be astonished to see how very fast the rocking flight of 
the persecuted insect turns into quite tricky doubling movements. This protection is effective against a great 
number of assailants. In Africa certain birds as well as Asilids may almost daily be seen persecuting the Orgyia 
in vain and, after several failures, giving the chase up. 
The better many Lymantriidae are adapted to their surroundings in their state of repose. The warning 
colour of the larva being provided with venomous hairs is often represented by most fiery red spots ( Forth. 
chrysorrhoea) or stripes ( Org. thyellina) is not to be found in any other lepidopteron. White, quite neutral, yellow, 
dull orange, or brown colourings occur particularly in the African, but generally also in nearly all the Lymantriidae 
