420 
The Moths and Butterflies 
markings weak to wanting, the white transverse wing-band narrow and 
with no reddish border, the discal spots also without reddish margin. 
The polyphemus-moth, Telea polyphe- 
mus (Fig. 605), expanse 4 to 5 inches, 
common in the whole country, is ocherous 
brown with a pinkish margined blackish 
outer transverse band across each wing 
and a discal spot on each wing with 
unsealed clear center; this latter char¬ 
acter makes the species at once unmistak¬ 
able ; the hind wing-spots are in the center 
of a large blackish blotch with bluish 
scales by the inner margin of the clear 
spot. The larva (Fig. 606), which feeds 
on various forest-, shade-,- and orchard- 
trees, reaches a length of 3 inches or 
more, is light green with seven oblique 
pale-yellowish lines on each side of the 
body, and bears numerous little black 
wart-like processes provided with small 
stiff bristles, and each body segment has 
a small silvery spot on the middle. The 
dense oval, completely closed cocoon is 
made of silk and a few leaves closely 
wrapped and tied together. It usually 
falls to the ground in autumn, but sometimes remains on the tree. The 
moth secretes a fluid from its mouth which softens and partly dissolves one 
end of the cocoon for its emergence. 
% 
Fig. 604.—Larva of Samia cecropia. (After Dickerson; natural size.) 
In Plate VII, Fig. 4, is shown in color the luna-moth, or pale empress- 
of the night, Tropcea luna (Fig. 607), a marvel of delicate green tinting 
Fig. 603. —Venation of a Saturniid, 
Bombyx mori. cs, costal vein; sc, 
subcostal vein; r, radial vein; m, 
medial vein; c, cubital vein; a, 
anal veins. (After Comstock; en¬ 
larged.) 
