102 
INSECTS. 
The Burnets,— Family ZYGIENID/E. 
The burnets are for the most part small moths, with long, rather narrow fore¬ 
wings, and stout bodies extending beyond the hind-wings. Their usual colour is 
black, green, or dark blue, spotted with red, white, or yellow. The hind-wings are 
grey, red, or similar in colour to the fore-wings, with a narrow black margin; and 
the antennae are somewhat abruptly narrowed towards the extremity. The burnets 
are local, though, from their gregarious habits, abundant where they occur. The 
larvae are rather compressed, tapering at both ends; and the cocoon is long, spindle- 
shaped, yellow or white, of fine shiny silk, and attached longitudinally to grass- 
stems. Of the six-spotted burnet (Zygcena ftlipendulce) the caterpillar feeds late 
in the autumn, and hibernates until the following spring. It is short, stout, 
slightly hairy, dull yellow, with two rows of black spots along the back, and feeds 
on grasses of various kinds. The moth flies heavily in broad daylight, and may 
often be seen, two or three together, hanging upon flower-heads in chalk-pits and 
on downs by the sea. Its fore-wings are black, with metallic green lustre, having 
six bright red spots placed in three pairs; and the hind-wings are bright crimson, 
with a narrow black border. The species, which is abundant in certain parts of 
England, as well as on the Continent, is shown in various stages of development in 
the illustration on p. 111. 
The Case-Weavers,— Family Psyceid.e. 
An interesting group of moths, although not noticeable either for size or 
coloration, is that of the case-weavers. Their chief claim to notice is from the 
curious habits of the larvae, which form from vegetable 
debris, twigs, chips, etc., a case in which they dwell, 
protruding merely the thoracic segments, with the three 
pairs of legs belonging to them. Some other moths, 
as for instance the genus Coleopliora, also construct a 
tough case of a somewhat similar nature but manu¬ 
factured entirely of silk. Amongst other insects the 
same habit of the larvae is found amongst the caddis- 
flies, which creep on river-beds protected by a case of 
encrusted shells, pebbles, twigs, etc. In the moths of the 
present family the males alone possess well-developed 
wings, the females being wormlike, and often without 
antennae, legs, or wings. The phenomenon known as 
parthenogenesis has been observed amongst members 
of this family. The moths are mostly dull brown 
insects, and the various species are better distinguished 
by a comparison of the larval-cases than of the insects 
themselves. Of the many species embraced in this 
family, one only can be described, and this but briefly. 
This species (Psyche unicolor ) is a dull-brown little 
moth, common in Central and Eastern Europe, but 
c 
PSYCHE MOTH. 
a , Male ; b, Female, larva in case ; 
c, Female pupa; d, Female 
moth; e, Male, larva in case; 
/, Male pupa. (All of nat. size.) 
