The Insect World: Being a Popular Account of the Orders of Insects

The Emperor Moth {Saturnia carpini, Fig. 230) much resembles the above, except in size. This species is common in England, and its green larva, covered with black or pink warts, from which spring hairs, as in the last, is by no means rare on heath in the autumn. It also feeds on bramble and other plants. ^ Among the Atiaci foreign to Europe, we must mention Atlas (Fig. 231), the expanse of whose wings exceeds four and a quarter

Fig. 230.— Emperor Moth {Saturnia r.arpiui).

inches. This magnificent moth, one of the largest known, comes from China. The family Bomhycidce comprises many species which we must not omit to mention. The Lackey [Bombyx neustrid) derives its name from the colour of the caterpillar, which has longitudinal lines of various colours, and a blue head. These caterpillars live together on a great number of our forest and garden trees, to which they do much damage. The moth (Fig. 232) has a brownish body, and wings of a more or less tawny yellow colour, with two darker lines on the front wings.

The Procession Moth {Bombyx processioned) is a small greyish moth, the caterpillars of which live in numerous troops on oak trees, and devour the leaves at the moment of their development. In the

2SO THE INSECT WORLD.

evening these caterpillars come out of their common nest, and form a sort of procession; hence their name Procession Moth. " I kept

Fig. 231.— Attacus (Bombyx) Atlas.

Fig. 232. — The Lackey [Bombyx neiistria).

some for a little time in my house in the country," says Reaumur, brought an oak branch which was covered with them into my stud)

251 LEPIDOPTERA.

where I could much better follow the order and regularity of their march than I could have done in the woods. I was very much amused and pleased at watching them for many days. I hung the branch on which I had brought them against one of my window shutters. When the leaves were dried up., when they had become too hard for the jaws of the caterpillars, they tried to go and seek better food elsewhere. One set himself in motion, a second followed at his tail, a third followed this one, and so on. They began to defile and march up the shutter, but being so near to each other that the head of the second touched the tail of the first. The single file was throughout continuous; it formed a perfect string of caterpillars of about two feet in length, after which the line was doubled. Then two caterpillars marched abreast, but as near the one which preceded them as those who were marching in single file were to each other. After a few rows of our processionists who were two abreast, came the rows of three abreast; after a few of these came those which were four abreast; then there were those of five, others of six, others of seven, others of eight caterpillars. This troop, so well marshalled, was led by the first. Did it halt, all the others halted; did it again begin to march, all the others set themselves in motion, and followed with the greatest precision..,. That which went on in my study goes on every day in the woods where these caterpillars live When it is near sunset you may see one caterpillar coming out of any of the nests, by the opening which is at the top, which would hardly afford space for two to come out abreast. As soon as it has emerged from the nest, it is followed by many others in single file; when it has got about two feet from the nest, it makes a pause, during which those who are still in the nest continue to come out; they fall into their ranks, the battaHon is formed; at last the leader sets oft marching again, and all the others follow him. That which goes on in this nest takes place in all the neighbouring nests ] all are evacuated at the same time."

One part of Fig. 233 shows the aiTangement of the caterpillars on coming out of the nest. These caterpillars are furnished with long hairs, slightly tufted, which come off with the greatest ease, and which if they penetrate into the skin, cause violent itching. In 1865 a number of the alleys of the Bois de Boulogne were shut up from the public in order to save them from this annoyance. These caterpillars construct a covering common to them all, in which they live, and transform themselves therein, each insect making for his own private use a small cocoon. This insect is said to have been found in England, but there is not sufficient evidence to admit it into our lists.

Fig. 233. — LarvEe of the Processicn Moth (Bo}/. dyx processionea).

Fig. 234. — The Vapourer Moth {Orgyia antiand), male and female.

The Orgy las comprise a great number of small species, of a dark colour, which do a great deal of damage to our forest trees. In Sep-

LEPIDOPTERA.

tember and October the male of the Orgyia antiqua, with his tawny wings, may often be seen flying about the streets of London. The female (Fig. 234) is remarkable, as she has only the rudiments of wings, and only goes as far as the side of her cocoon. The caterpillar of the Orgyia pudibunda, called also the Hop Dog, attacks almost every sort of tree. When the state of the atmosphere favours their propagation, they appear in fearful quantities, and cause the

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Fig. 235. — Orgyia pudibunda.

greatest havoc. During the autumn of 1828, in the environs of Pfalzburg, they were to be counted by millions. The extent of the woods laid waste was calculated at over 3,000 acres. It is common in Britain. Fig. 235 is a representation of Orgyia pudibunda.

Among the genus Liparis^ the species of which are also very destructive to trees, we must mention the Brown-tailed Moth {Ltparis chrysorrhcea, Fig. 236), a species by no means rare in England. The

caterpillars live in quantities, on apple, pear, and elm trees, and destroy the plantations of the promenades of Paris.

The females of this genus tear off the fur from the extremity of their abdomens to make a soft bed for their eggs, and to preserve them from the cold. And yet they are never to see their young, for they die after they have laid their eggs. Another tribe of Bombycina contains species of a small size, which are remarkable from the habits of theii

Fig. 236. — Llpari.s chrysorrhoea. caterpillars, which make, with foreign bodies, cases, in the interior of which they live and undergo their metamorphoses.

The caterpillars of the genus Psyche live in a case composed of iMf

Fig. 237. — Case of Psyche muscella. Fig. 238. - Psyche muscella.

Fig. 239. — Case of Psyche rubicolella. Fig. 240.— Case of Psyche graminellj

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Fig. 241. — Larva of Psyche graminella. Fig. 242. — Psyche graminella.

fragments of leaves, of bits of grass and straw, of small sticks of wood, or of litde stones, stuck together, and intermixed with silky threads.

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VII.—Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda). Larva, pupa, and perfect insect. 1, 2, Perfect insect. 3. Pupa. 4. Larva.

LEPIDOPTERA.

We give a representation (in Figs. 237, 239, and 240) of the cases of the caterpillars of three different kinds. The females of these moths are completely destitute of wings, and resemble caterpillars. As a general rule they hardly ever leave their case. The males (Figs. 238, 242) are of a blackish grey, and fly very swiftly.

The caterpillars of the genus Hepialus are difficult to observe, as they live in the interior of the roots of various vegetables. Such is the common Ghost Moth {Hepialus hiwiuli), which sometimes causes the greatest damage. The type of the genus Zeuzeni is Zeuzcra lEsadi, or Wood

Fig. 243.— Zeuzera aesculi.

Leopard (Fig. 243). It has white wings with large blackish blue spots on the anterior, and small black spots on the posterior wings. The caterpillar, of a vivid yellow, spotted with black, lives in the interior of the trunks of a great many trees, principally the chestnut, the elm, the lime, and the pear tree. This moth, which is known also by the name of Coquette, is to be seen in the evening flying about the public gardens of Paris, and is not rare in England. The most celebrated species of the allied genus Cossus is the Wood-boring Goat Moth {Cossus ligniperda)^ figured in Plate VII. The moth has a heavy brownish body and greyish wings streaked with black. It is found in most parts of Europe. The caterpillar is of a reddish colour, as if it had on a leathern jerkin, and disgorges a liquid which is believed to soften ligneous fibres, and it Hves in the interior 68

of willows and other trees. It was on this caterpillar that Lyonnet made his admirable anatomical researches.

Fig. 244. — Larva of Dicranura vinula.

Another tribe of Bombycina comprises some very strange caterpillars, whose hindermost feet are changed into forked prolongations, which they move about in a threatening manner. These sort of Hy-

Fig. 245. — Dicranura vinula.

traps are perhaps meant to keep at a distance those insects which would lay their eggs upon the caterpillars body. Ihe caterpillars

LEPIDOPTERA.

of Dicranura are of this kind. We give a representation of the caterpillar and the moth of the Puss Moth {Dicranura vinula, Figs. 244, 245), as also the moth of the Dicranura verbasci^ the former of which is common in England, and the larva may be found

Fig. 246. — Dicranura verliasci.

during the late summer and early autumn feeding on poplars and willows; and of the caterpillar of Stauropus fagi, the Lobster Moth (Fig. 247), rare in France, whose appearance is strange indeed. The moths, on the contrary, have nothing about them remarkable.

The Noctuina are a group of Lepidoptera of middling size, and generally found in woods, meadows, and gardens, where their eater-

Larva of the Lobbter Moth {Stauropus fagi).

pillars have lived. They seldom fly till about sunset, or during the night. Their upper wings are of a dark colour, with spots in_ the middle of a particular shape. Their lower wings are of variou« colours, often whitish, sometimes red or yellow.