286 
THE STUDY OF INSECTS . 
The Bad-wing, Dyspteris abortivaria (Dys'pte-ris a-bor. 
ti-va'ri-a).—It is easy to recognize this moth (Fig. 340) by 
the peculiar shape of its wings, the 
hind wings being greatly reduced in 
size. It is of a beautiful pea-green 
color, with two white bands on the 
fore wings and one on the hind 
wings. Its color has led to its being 
placed heretofore in the Geometridae; 
but the structure of its wings shows 
it to be an Hydriomenid. The larva feeds on the leaves of 
grape, which it rolls. 
Family STERRHID^E (Ster'rhi-dae). 
The Sterrhids ( Ster'rJiids ). 
The members of this family are most easily recognized 
by the venation of the 
hind wings (Fig. 341). In 
these veins II and III co¬ 
alesce for a short distance 
near the beginning of the 
second fourth of the dis- 
cal cell and then diverge 
rapidly. The greater 
number of our common 
species are of medium 
size, with whitish wings 
crossed by from two to 
four indistinct lines, and 
with the head black in 
front ; some are pure 
white, and others are 
brown marked with red¬ 
dish lines. About one 
hundred species have 
beenfound in this country. 
Fig. 340. —Dyspteris abortivaria . 
