SB S33 .S9 Copy 1 Butterflies and Moths IN THEIR CONNECTION WITH AGKICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE. A PAPER PREPARED FOR THE PiisiLrai mn unm socim JANUARY, 1879, BY HERMAN STRECKER, BEADING, PENNA. k^f C 20 1879 HARRISBtlRG: LANE S. HART, PRINTER AND BINDER, 1879. / BUTTEEFLIES AND MOTHS OF NORTH AMERICA, IN THEIR RELATION TO HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE. Herman Strecker, Reading^ Pa. That the study of eutomolop,T is an absolute necessity to the fruit-g-rower, the tloi'ist, the general gardener, is a fact beyond all cavil, inasmuch as every tree, bush, weed, or llower has its insect depredator, or rather depre- dators, for they seldom escape with the persecution of one pest alone ; and no matter how unsavory, or even deleterious, as many of these may be as food for the higher animals, they are devoured with ai)parent relish by these rapacious pests, either in the perfect or winged state, or, which is by far more frequent, in the larva, or worm, or grub condition. Nor, as we are well aware, do these grubs, commonly known as caterpillars, worms, or maggots, conline their destructive powers to consuming the foliage of plants, but also attack stems, flowers, fruit, and even in numerous cases bore and burrow into and within the heart of the solid wood of large trees. What I shall more particularly treat of will be the insects comprised in the great order technically designated the Lepidoptera, (from the (Ireek lejjis, a scale, and pteron^ a wing,) but commonly known as butterflies ancTj moths, which comprises l\y far the greatest number of insects injurious tpj vegetation. Nor is there, as just alluded to, any plant exempt from their ravages. The bitter sage, the poisonous stramonium, euphorbij>i,and sola- nace;e, the tough, unsavory firs, pine and spruce, thistles and nettles, and even the dry, parchment-like lichens, all furnish palatable food for various species. In fact, there is no plant growing, from the gigantic red-wood trees ( Wellingtonia) of California, down to the lowly violet, that is exempt from their attacks. Of those feeding in the larval or worm state on the grape alone, are Frocris Americana, which, when perfect, is a small, nar- row-winged black moth, measuring less than an inch across the wings ; the Pandorus (Philampelus Fandorus^ Hiib.,) and Achemon Hawk moths, (P. Achemon Dru. ;) two large humming-bird moths, expanding across the wing three and a half to four and a quarter inches in dilferent individuals, are both beautiful insects ; the first of various tints of dark and light olive green, the second of shades of salmon and rose. Both are produced from huge, naked worms of either green or brownish color, which are among the mosc voracious of their kind, consuming the leaves in a manner frigiitful to behold. Allied to these is also the Myron Hawk moth, {Darapsa 3hj- ron, Cram.,) which is, however less in size, being only about two and a half inches across the wings. The front wings and body are olive green, varying iyi shade in difierent examples. The hind wings are brick red. The worm which produces this, in addition to eating the leaves, has the abominable habit of eating through the stems of the young bunches of grapes, causing them to fall ott". Abbot's Hawk-moth, ( Thyreus Abbofii, Swains.,) is aliout the same size as the preceding, but belongs to a difterent genus, it has an unusually robust body, terminated by a fan-shaped brush of feathery hairs. The small Innd wings are conspicuous fn* their bright yellow color. The fore wings and body are dark grey and brown, variously shaded and striated. This spe- cies is far less common than the three above described. Hs worm, like that of the Philampelus, is produced of two colors, either brown or green. All four of these Hawk-moths feed with Qqiml relish also on the Yirginia creeper, {Ariqyelopsis Quinquefulia.) The little eight-spotted day-llyins' moth, [Ahjpia Octomaculata, Fabr.,) is altout one and a quarter inches across the win_us,of a shining ])lack, with two large round pale yellow spots on each front wing, and two white ones on each hind wing. Tlie worm of this is a little over an inch long, and banded with many l>lack, white, and orange stripes or lines, and sjjotted with black. At a lirst glance it has a bluish look, which, on close inspec- tion, proves to be an illusion. Its head is reddish, or rust-colored. Another allied insect (P.^iycomorjjha Epimenis, Dm.,) is of somewhat smaller size, black, with a i)ale yellow liand across the front wings, and a bright red one across the hind wings. Its worm somewhat resembles that of the eight-spotted moth just alluded to. Another worm very closely re- sembles that of the eight-spotted moth, though belonging to the owlet moths, (Noc/uidae,) and producing an entirely different looking fly. This is up- wards of one and three quarter inches, has white upper wings with deep brown border, and yellowish hind wings. It is, in common parlance, called the beautiful wood nymi)h. Science knows it as Eudryas Grala^ Fabr. There is a closely allied species, {Eudryas Unio Iliib.,) also said to feed on the vine; but this fact has never come under my observation, nor am I sure that it is at all well autlienticated. My friend, Dr. Pilate, found myriads of the larva feeding on Eptlobium Colorafum, some miles from Dayton, Ohio. The common white moth known everywhere as the "Miller," consumes, in the larval state, the grape leaves with avidity. It is the common yellow hairy worm seen everywhere, which feeds on almost any green thing, indis- criminately. The little leaf-rolling moth, (Desmia Maculalis, Westw.,) is from a small green worm, that makes for itself a habitation by rolling up a leaf. This little moth is shining black, with two white spots on each front wing, and an irregular double spot on the hind wings. The male has a curious sort of knot about the middle of each feeler or antenna. The worm of the dainty little feather-wing, or plume moth Pterojihorns Periscelidactylus^ Fitch.,) devours the blossoms of the grape, as well as the young leaves, lirst making a shelter of them 1»y drawing them together with some silken threads. It then takes its repast with more ease of mind than is possessed by the vine-grower on discovering its ravages. The copper-underwing (^^4?7i73/(?p//?*a Pyramidoides^ Guen..) is a moth be- longing to the Owlets, (or Noctuidae.) It is upwards of two inches in ex- panse, of a dark brownish gray, with bright co])per-colored under or hind wings. Its worm is greenish wliite, with a yellow stripe on each side, and a wiiite one on the back. This worm is not confined to the grape, l)ut will cheerfully take to various varieties of raspberry as well as other plants. Another allied species, (Amphipyra Tragopoyinia^ L.,) found botli here and in Europe, also takes kindly to the vine for food. These, my horticul- tural friends, are the more well know^n Imtterfly foes that you are compelled to do battle with in order to sa\'e your grapes, both vine and fruit, from destruction. As I do not intend to more tlian liarely allude to other orders of insects, I will but add that besides these Lepidopterous worms, the poor graix- must suffer from the grubs of several beetles, which })erforate the leaves, riddling tlu^m like a sieve; from a small Ilemipterous insect called Tettigonia Vifis, or the vine Tettigonia, and the terrible Phylloxera^ which belongs to the gall insects. So each i)lant has its enemies, and the more value the plant has the more enemies will appear to assail it. Those alluded to above feed on the leaves, and in one instance on the blossoms. Others, moth grubs, besides feeding on these, likewise A\iry their diet by resorting to the fruit itself Of this class is the well known codling moth, (Carpoeapsa Pomon- ella, L.,) found in the old as well as the new world, which eats its laby- rinthine way through fruit, eventuall}' metamorphosing into a brilliant golden and silvern moth. The worm of the pretty little green geometrid moth, (Ajjlodes Bubivora, Riley,) eats the fruit of the raspberry; and I should here add 3^et another Lepidoptei'ous pest, (Penthina Vitooorana, Pack.,) afflicting the grape, W'hich it does by the maggot or larva entering the fruit and domiciling itself therein. The Cotton-Boll wovm^ (Heliothis Armiger Iliib.,) also in some districts called the Corn-worm, is found in most parts of the world. I have exam- ples from many i)arts of the United States and Territories, from Europe, Liberia, Australia, New Zealand, Chili, Brazil, and Buenos-Ayres. This wretch not only eats, as is too well known, the cotton bolls and young corn in the ear, but also the immature fruit of the tomato, cantaleup, and, with- out doubt, other fruits in their early stages. This is the species that has been confounded frequentl}^ with the true Army worm, (Leucania Uni- puncia^ Harr.,) which feeds on grass and grain, and which, likewise, has a wide geographical range, I having received it also, from Brazil, Buenos Ayres, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as from all parts of our own countr3^ The worm of another small moth {Peinpelia Grossulariae, Pack.,) burrows the fruit of the currant. In some genera of moths the worms bore into the stems of plants, or mine the solid trunks of trees ; the best known of which, with us, is that producing the pretty steel-blue wasp-like moth, with yellow girdle, (Sesia Exitiosa^ Say,) which bores the peach trees, en- tering them at the roots. Another mos(piito-looking moth (Sesia Tipul- iformis, L.) is the product of the worm which liores the currant stems. Members of the genus of noctuids, called Gortyna^ bore the stems or stalks of various annual plants. The corn borer, (Achatodes Zeae, Harr.,) as its name implies, bores the stalks of Indian corn ; another species (Gor- tyna Nitela^ Guen.,) burrows in the stalks of the potato and tomato vines, as well as in those of dahlias and other flowers. The locust and oak are burrowed by a large, tawny, maggot-like worm, the female of which is three inches long, the male scarcely two ; this is the larva of the carpenter moth, (Gossus Rohiniae^ Peck,) which bores the solid wood of the tree, in diverse directions, and transforms to a chrysalis within one of the passages thus bored. When ready to emerge, this chrysalis, by means of the serrated edges of its abdominal segments, works itself to the end of the opening, and after the moth has escaped , the empty pupa case may still be seen pro- truding. The moth is about two inches across the wings in the male, and nearly three in the female ; the latter is greyish, witli fine net-like lines on the wings, especially on the primaries ; the male is distinguished by yellow hind wings. This insect prefers old trees to young ; the female lays her eggs in the crevices in the bark. In addition to its infesting the locust and oak, I have found it in an old orchajxl, emerging fr^m a pound-apple tree. We have several other species of C'ossw.s, ( G. Macmurtrei, Bdl. = G. Plagi- atus, Wlk., G. Qaerciperda, Fitch, etc.,) but these are all very scarce, too much so by far to cause the slightest apprehension of injury. In Europe there are, also, several species, all but two of which (C Ligniperda, F.,and Zeuzera Aesculi, L.) are great rarities. But the vast Eucalypti forests of Australia are the true home of this class of insects. There numbers of monstrous species tunnel their way through these trees, the worm of one of which is seven or eight inches in length, and the moth produced from it is nine or ten inches across the fore wings. The natives of this region, though earing nothing for the destruction of the trees, do not, however, allow the worms to carry out their devices in peace, for l)y the native gastronome they are considered one of the most desirable delicacies. ]Mr. Titian Peale related to me, that one day, during a sojourn in Australia, he saw the little native boys acting around the p]ucalypti trees in a way which he could not understand. On approaching nearer, and con- vincing the little fellows that he was not dangerous, they went on with their oi)erations ; they had long straws, nibbed near one end into a sort of barb, which they gently insinuated into the openings in the trees made and occu- pied by the great Zeuzera and Cossus larva, they then angled away awhile mitil the disturbed monster seized the straw, when it was gently and dexter- ously drawn, still holding on to the straw, from its lair, and in a twinkling CDuveyed to the maw of the young savage, who enjoyed it with the keenest relish. The moths, also, after the wings and hair of the body have been singed (^tf are considered a delectable bonne houche. V>\\{, now I must turn from the subject of food plants, as I fear too much space has already been taken up. Let a word sutlice to say, that every plant has not only its pest, but its many pests, and many of these, not content to prey on one plant, or even one class of plants, extend their ravages to many. The Arctians, which are hairy caterpillars, in their tirst stage are polyi)liagous, eating of almost every vegetable product. The larva of the lo moth {Hyper- cJieria lo^ ¥ahr. ^=Varia, Wlk.,) will eat willow, corn, cotton, poplar, wild cherry , sassafras, hoi)S, gooseberry , rose, and other plants. The Cecropia moth {Samia Cecropia^ L.) is also quite a general feeder. The Hickory Horned moth ( Githeronia Ii('gaUs,Fc\})V.,) feeds on walnut, persimmon, rose, and other things, whilst its nearest relative is so particular as to diet, that it will re- fuse everything except pine, which shows but poorly for its taste. The Lithosians, a genus, or several genera of weak, delicate moths feed, in the grub state, on lichens. But, as a rule, I have found that the vilest, most useless plants were invariably the least atllicted by larval pests, whilst the cabbage is ruined by the larva? of the Rape Butterlly, {Pieris Rapse, L.,) the Zebra moth, {Ceramica Ficta, Harr.,) and others. The S;rawberry must stand the ravages of its several leaf-rolling moth larvie {Anchylopera Fragaria, Riley, Lozontaenia Eosaceana, Harr., L. Fragariana^ i'ack.,) as well as of the Dagger \\\o{\\^{Acronycta Oblinata. Xh. — S.,) not to speak of the insects of other orders, especially Hymenopicra. The mullen and thistle wax mighty on the highways and road side, and the thorn apple {Datura Stramonium) holds undisputed possession, with the ash and gar- bage heaps, in every neglci'ted out lot, not that they too have not their parasites, but in comparison with the legions that infest useful plants, these are as nothing. Nor are Lepidopterous larvjv conlined in their depreda- tions to vegetable productions only. The cloih and fur moths {Tinea Taj)etzeUa^ T. Ventianella, and T. Pe/to/!t!/Za,) subsisi entirely in the worm state on the substances, froin which they take their names. I might here mention, that the museum pest, {Anthrenus 3[useoBorum,) Avhich is such a curse to collections of stull'ed birds and animals, dried insects, etc., will also devour woolen goods with as much avidity as its cousin, the dreaded Bullalo bug (Aiithrenus Scrophularise); both of these, however, are grubs of beetles, not of butterilies or moths. It might not be uninteresting to make mention, also, of the fact that caterpillars of various species of the butterlly, jiroliably, more than of the moths, will, from the dearth of their natural vege'able food, attack and devour their own or other species, and the taste thus begotten l)v necessity becomes so strong that in many in- stances they will thereafter refuse vegetable food and fall back on the gratification of their canni)»al i)ropensities. There are a few plants tliat, under the law of retaliation, destz'oy insects. Of these, Sarracenia Variolaris, and Venus' Hy-traj), Z>yo?)ea Muscipula, are well known. The insects which are unwary enouoh to i^et into the pitcher like leaves of these and allied plants, are held imprisoned by a viscid matter that covers their inner surfoce. But I would specially mention an insect destroying plant, not as familiar as these, which lielongs to the As- clepiad or milk weed fomily, and is indioenous in some parts of South America. A friend in Georgia has one of them, which he tells me came from Florida, though it may have been originally brought from South America to that State. Its proper name is Araujia Athens, (PhysianfJius Albens of some authors,) and it is well known in green-houses here as well as in gardens ; it has rather small white flowers, shaped somewhat like those of the common species of milk weed, but not growing in such clusters. To these flowers are attracted a great number of insects of various orders, every one of which meets slow but sure death in the grip of the flower. The moment the small H_ymenopter inserts his head he is a prisoner ; no struggles will avail to free his head from this floral vise. The thread-like tongue of the butterfly or moth is not slender enough to escape the deadly embrace, and there the unfortunate insect struggles vainly on, held fast by- head or tongue, until life is extinct. Of moths and butterflies that are beneficial but little is to be said. They are beautiful and most interesting objects of study in all their stages, and in all parts of the world. They are attractive even to the unscientific lover of the beautifid, but when it comes down to any actual benefit to be derived from the productions or services of any of them, if we except the few that are used as food, we must fall l)ack on the silk worm of commerce, (Bom- hyx Mori, L.) and its less generally known silk producing congenors. So much has been written and is known in regard to the former that it would be absurd to made any repetitions here ; but it is not so well known that several other much larger and gaily ornamented species are also silk ]3ro- ducers, from whose cocoons silk is largely obtained and manufactured in India and Japan.. Among these are prominent the Cynthia moth (Alfacus Cynthia, Dm..) the Pern\-i, (Anfheraea Pernyi, (luer.,) of China, and the Jama-Mai, (Antheraea Jama-Mai, Guerin,) and Ricini, (Affaeus Ricini, Bdl.,) of Japan. The first of these, the Cynthia, has been introduced, and for many years acclimated in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, where it feeds and thrives vigorously on the ailauthus; no elforts have been made, at least to any extent in this country, to utilize its silk, thougli it has, probably, been manufactured for ages in the presidency of Bengal, in India. This silk is coarse, but of exceedingly great durability. The silk of the Mylitta or Tusseh silk worm, (Antheraea Mylitta, Guerin,) is also manufactured in Bengal and other districts in India. Our native silk spinners are the Pol,y- phemus, ( Telea Polyphemus, L.,) Luna, {Actias Luna, L.,) PromeHiea, (Attacus Promethea, l)ru.,) Angulifera, (^^^aeu8 An(julifera,\\\\i..^) Cecro- X)\\\' {Samia Gecropia, L.,) Columbia, (Samia Columbia, S. T. Smith,) Ceanothi, (Samia Geanothi, Behr.,) and Glover's silk worms, (Samai Glov- eri, S'reck.) The first four produce compact tight cocoons, the others, especially Cecropia, loose ones. What value these may have commercially is yet to be proven, though Mr. Trouvelot experimented largely with Polyphe- mus some years ago, but with what success I am unacquainted. They are large showy moths in their perfect state, and Luna, with its long tailed hind wings, delicate pale sea-green color, is the most lovely of all our moths and will compare in lieauty with those from any part of the world. Cecropia is our largest species, dark heavily furred, and with reddish bands. It re- minds one of the dusky blanketed forms of our own North American Indi- 8 ans, inneli as the faiK-iful s|)eckle(I wings of tlic Chinese Agamemnon l)ut- ier[]y,{Papilio Agamemnon, L.,) engender fclioughts of tea chests, porcelain vases, and small footed ladies. The cocoon produced by Glover's silk worm (Samia Gloveri, Streck.,) resembles arl)orescent native silver; it is irregu- lar and deeply burrowed, and in color exactly like frosted silver. This spe- cies is from Utah, where its larva abounds on goosel)erry bushes, both wild and cultivated. Long years ago. Abbot asserted tliat the silk of the Cecropia moth had "been carded, spun, and made into stockings." — See Natnralists' Library, Vol. VII, Entomology. Before closing my remarks on silk moths, I miglit as well add, that the larva of one of them (Altacus Vacuna, Westw.,) is also eaten by the natives along the Ogowai river in Ashanti, (according to a statement accompanied by a iigure of the moth in the Scientific American, No. 150, page 2394, November, 1878,) which will further extend the small list of species useful to other animals. The enemies wjiicli attack buttertiies and moths in the larva or worm state are legion, and among these are man's best friends in the insect world. They are mostly from the orders of Hymenoptera, nemip*^era, and Diptera. The flrst and last deposit their eggs in the living worm, and when hatched they devour their unwilling foster parent. The Ilemiptera, to which be- longs man's warmly attaclied follower, the bed-bug, {Gimex Lectularius.) impr.le the living larva on their sharp l)eaks,and suck its juices and life out together. One species of this latter class has been especially useful in lessening the numl)ers of the worm of the cabbage Hy, {Pieri>^ Ilopfc, L.) A large Ich- neumon fly (Ophion Macruruni, L.) of a reddish rust color, lays its eggs in the larva of the C'ecroj)ia, Polyphemus, and other species of moths and buttertiies. These eggs, when developed, i)roduce a maggot, Avhicli eats ut the substance of the moth larva. When it is full grown, it makes its own cocoon within the shell of the larva, and in the following spring em- erges a })erfect Avasp-like insect, ready to reenact the same role as its progenitor of the season previous. The (Mialcis tlies, {Ghalcis Maria and GriiptuH Nunc'iia^) are also parasitic in the larva of Cecropia and allies. The Tiichina lly, {Exorista llilitai'is, Walsh,) a dipterous or two- winged insect, is anolher unwelcome guest to the entrails of sundry Le- pidopterous larvjv. Size will not exem})t them from destructive i)arasites, for that minu*^e apple j)est, the codling moth, is destroyed by two still smidler ichneumon flies, {Marrocenlrus Delicatus, Cress., and Pimpla An- nulipea, I^i'-i) whose grulis i)rey on its larva, as do those of the Ophion, etc., on the larger species. Another ichneumon fly (Pferovialus Pufiarum, L..) infests that imported nuisance the oft-mentioned cabbage worm, {Pieris Pa])!e, L.) This little ichneumon is, in the winged state, a most brilliant golden little tly. Darapsa Myron, one of the Hawk moths previously spoken of as feeding on tlie grai)e, is frecpiently infested with the larv:e of a sm;dl icrhneumon fly. These larviv, after eating the su1)stance of the worm until they are mature, come out through its skin, and make their small white cocoons on the outside fost to its l)ody, giving it a most novel ap- pearance. Butterflies, moths, and other insects, as well as their larv;e, are infested with the (lordians, commonly known as hair worms, whicli are the long, Avhite, thread-like worms sometimes seen in puddles, varying in lengtli from four or Ave inches to two feet. The large species is sometimes found within living butterflies, grasshoppers, ci'ickets, etc., and a small species is not infrequent in the body of tlie grub of the apple or codling moth. Besides these animal parasitic enemies, and the birds and dragon flies, vegetable parasites are also found which prey on either the larva or perfect fly. One species of these affected the silk-woi-m in Europe to a most disas- trous extent. I have had larvae of the Polyphemus moth to die from being affected by a minute fungoid growth. In my possession is an example of a Hawk moth, (Sphinx,) in the winged or perfect state, which has a fungus growth issuing from all parts of its body, head, and wings, in filaments varying from a mere point to an inch in length. These issue from the su- tures, between the abdominal segments, from the juncture of the wings with the thorax, and between and around the legs, and bristle, porcupine-like, in all directions. I have seen another example, (belonging to Mr. T. Mead, of New York, if I recollect rightly,) also a Hawk moth, but smaller than mine, and not so densely covered with the fungus. Examples of similar growth are exhibited in the figures of Sphingidae, in Cramer s " PapiUons Exoiique,''^ on Plate 26V, Figs. A, B. I have also had a beetle from Bra- zil which had some curious growth, analogous to these here cited, and which, in some places, seemed to have pierced and grown through the hard, horny elytra or wing-cases. Most persons who have paid any attention to economic entomology, will recollect the fignres of large beetle grubs, with two long filamentary vegetable growths issuing from the neck, that appeared some years ago in the American J]ntomologist, and other scientific publi- cations. Whether the groAvths mentioned above as occurring in the Hawk moths, (Sphivgidoe,) were after the death of the animals or prior thereto, will be, of course, matter for supposition ; but that they attiicted the insect whilst alive is not impossible, or even improbable, as Prof. Riley mentions that " according to Dr. Car])enter, it is not at all unusual, in the West In- dies, to see wasps, (genus Polisfes,) flying about with plants of their own length i)rojecting from their bodies ;" and we all know^ of the fungus that attacks the common house fly, glueing it to the window-panes and adjoin- ing wood-work. The diversity in form and appearance of Lepidopterous larvae is as amaz- ing, and even more interesting than the wondrous Ijeauty of the jierfect fly. The worms of the Swallow-tail butterflies (Papilio) are, in some instances, covered with long, fleshy processes, as are those of the splendid Malaysian Priamus butterfly and allies, and our own brilliant blue Philenor butter- fly (Papilio Philenor, L.,) others are of the shape of snails, thickest in the mi(ldle and tapering at either end. To this class belongs our graceful Ajax butterfly, (Papilio Ajox, L.) Others are swollen near the head, as in the Troilus, (Papilio Troilus, L.,) which feeds on the sassafras. All of the species belonging to this genus protrude at will, when disturbed, from the neck, a fleshy yellowish or pink Y shaped process, which emits a disa- greeable smell. The worms of the White Butterflies, (Pieris, Colias, etc.,) conspicuous amongst which are the everlasting cabbage pest, (Pieris Pajy^,) and the common yellow mud butterfly, always seen congregated in wagon ruls and puddles in country roads, are mostly green and inconspicuous, not easily to be distinguished from the leaves on which they feed. The little blue and coi)i)er butterflies (Lycaenidse) of our own meadows, are produced from small, oval, apparently footless larva?. By the way, it is well worth while to mention of these Lycaenid larvte, that a sweet juice exudes from their bodies, which is greatly sought by ants, who will not injure the worm, but on the contrary take all possible care to do nothing to annoy it. In the pearl spotted butterflies, (Argynnis.) the painted lady, (Pyrameis Gardui, L.,) the Atalanta, (P. Atalanta, L.,) etc., the caterpillars are cov- *ered with long, rigid, sharp spines, The tSkippers, (Hesperidse,) a large 10 family mostly of small butterflies that fly by jerks, hence their name, have smooth, pale worms, tapering- at each end, and with thin necks and enor- mous heads. The Hawk moth worms. (Sphingidse,) among which are the tobacco worm, (Sphinx Carolina, L.,) the clear wing- humming-bird moth, (il/acro(//o.s\s-a Thi/sbe^ Fabr.,) etc., are in most cases known by a long, pointed, somewhat curved horn, on the top of the last joint of the body, which the uninitiated generality mistake for its head. The monstrous and ferocious looking green worm of the hickory horned moth, is fur- nished with eight large curved horns on the neck, but formidable as this monster seems, it is perfectly harmless, and mial)le to cause any injury. Not so, however, with the curious lo moth worms, which feed on corn, willow, cotton, and many other things, and the Maia worms, (i/(^?)u7(-uca Mala, Dru.) These are covered with branched processes or spines, which, if the worm be handled, cause excessive pain and redness ot the parts of several hours duration. The first of these is pale pea-green, wiiji a narrow red and white stripe along the whole length of each side. The other is yellowish, with red spots on the back and a stripe on each side. To these stinging caterpillars I should add the remarkably shaped footless larva^ of some of the Limacodes, the best known of which is the common saddle- l»ack worm, {Empretia Siimulea, Clem.,) which every one having rose bushes has at one time or another observed. It is a chuids;y, square sort of little fellow, an inch l*)ng, of a dark chestnut color, with a large i)ea-green saddle-shai)ed mark covering the back and sides. In the center of this mark, on the back, is a circular pa'cli of the brown color. This worm has four fleshy horns covered with short bristles, two at each end of the body; and woe Ijetide the one who meddles with these with nnprotecU'd hands, or allows them to come anywhere in contact with the bare skin. Phew! net- tles are nowhere. Another of these Limacodes larva {Limacodea PilJie- cium, Ab.-S.) is flat, of a uniform dark-brown color, with four long curved fleshy arms or hooks issuing from each side at right angles. These appur- tenances become detached very easily if the worm be handled, and it con- trives to take them off itself before spinning its pupa case, to the outside of which it attaches them as trophies or atrophies. This little worm has a Victor Hugo devil-flsh sort of look, but cannot sting, and is perfectly harm- less. The small larva^ of the moths of an allied genus (Lagoa) look ex- actly like a close bunch or tuft of wool or raw cotton. Ajn'opos of this su]>ject of stinging caterpillars, I saw a year or two, or more since, in one of the New York weekly story papers, that sports a "science colunm," a long account of stinging larvie found in Australia, copied from the ])roceed- ings of some seientiflc society, I believe. This was all so far very well, but nnfortunately the editor of this same science department found it necessary to supplement the article with a few original observations of his own, the principal one being a bare-faced assertion that stinging larva' were so far only found in Australia. Some one should have sent him some of our common saddle-back worms, or those of the lo moth, to convince him prac- tically of the error of his ways. I did drop him a note stating that we had several common si)ecies of stinging larviis in this country, wliich had long- been well known, bu^ no correction of his mistake appeared. I related the incident to friend Fuller, then of the Neiv York Rural, who comforted me by exclaiming, " What ! do you think a newspaper would correct its own errors? An editor can never make mistakes." We both laughed heartily, for friend Fuller would have been the first to correct his own or anybody else's mistakes as soon as he became aware of their existence ; but the aboA-'e shows badly for that great enlightener of the masses — the popular public press. 11 In the HarpyiiTp, ( Centra of American authors,) the extremity of the body is armed with two long- horns, each of which encases another horn which the animal darts out when annoyed. Every one is ac jnainted with the beautiful brush tufted caterpillar, with its bright red head, four sliort 3'ellow brashes set in the black velvet of its back, and two long feathery tufts at the head, and one at the tail; it is the worm of that nuisance the Tussock moth, {Orgijm Leucostigma, Abb.-8.,) whose cocoons, with the white froth-like substance on them that covers the eggs, are foiuid every- where. The perfect insect is a very inconspicuous thing, the male being a small gray moth, and the female, which is wingless, has much the ai)pear- ance of an over-fed maggot. Many larv;\^ reseml)le, whilst at rest, so closely the substances on which they repose, that their presence will often fail to be detected by the most prac^ced eye. Among such I might mention the Lappet moths ( Tolype Velledo^ StoU., T. Punctistriga^ Wlk.) These, when at rest on the trunk of an apple tree, the leaves of which are their favorite food, so closely resemble in color the bark, that it is almost impossible to discover them. Nor must w'e allow the curious measuring or span worm {Phalaenidse) to pass unnoticed ; these have the habit of holding on to a liml) by their anal or last pair of legs, and allowing the body to stand rig- idly out at an angle of about fifty-five degrees, and when in this position, further aided by their green or brownish color, the eye may rest on them without a suspicion that they are animate objects. When in motion, owing to the distance Ijetween the legs and prolegs being so great, they curve up their body at every step in the form of an arch or horse shoe, hence their name of semi-loopers. Whilst on this subject of the resemblance of larva^ to other objects, com- monly though improperly termed mimicry, it might not be amiss to recur to a few instances of this so-called mimicry in the perfect insects, the moths and butterflies. Foremost among these I would name the Catocalae, or nnclerwings. These are mostly large moths, frequenting the trees in our woods, on various kinds of which their larvse feed. The body and upper wings are grey or brown, variously mottled in darker shades and marks. The lower wings are either bright red, or yellow with black bands, or else entirely black; and one exceptional species in this country has the hind wings black, with a white cross-band. When at rest the grey or brown upper wings entirely cover and conceal the conspicuous-colored underwings, and when the insect is in this position on the trunk of a tree, wliicli is its general resting place, it assimulates so closely in a]^pearance to the l)ark and the lichens growing thereon, that it is detected with difficulty, even when searched for; and what is still more curious, is that the paler species appear always to rest on bark of some analogous color, and the darker ones on that simulating their color. One species {Catocala Gara, (luen.,) has the upper wings of a far deeper shade than in most of the other species, appearing, at a casual glance, to be almost black; and, strange to relate, in a piece of woods where I was collecting on one occasion, all the examples of this species which I foimd were clustered on some huge black warty ex- crescences on an old tree, the color of which was nearly the same dingy hue as the wings of the insect. This is no isolated instance, but the rule, not the exception. It is this resemblance to lichen, etc., that has caused them to be called in France Lichnees,as Lichnee Bleue,for the blue-banded nnderwing ; Lichnee Jaune, for the yellow, and so on. Another moth, l)elonging to a different family, known as the American Lappet moth, (Gnstropacha Americana^ Ilarr.,) when at rest precisely re- seml)les, both in shape and color, a dead leaf; hence the name of Feuille- Morte, given to an allied species, {Qastropa^cha Querci/olia^ L.) 12 Other Lepidoptcrous insects resemble wasps and bees; the moths of the peach, currant, and other horers, (Sesiidee,) are complete counterfeits of Hymenopterous insects, exceptins: that they are powerless to stin<>-. The cle:i r-winoed Hawk moths ( MacrogloKsa I) iffm is , Bdl. , Axillaris , ( i . — R., JEthra., Streck., etc.) are the counterparts of large bees, their bodies being thick, short, and covered with black and yellow hair, and their wings, excepting the narrow outer margin, are devoid of scales, and are clear as glass, which makes the deception complete. From this resemblance, one of tiu> common European si)ecies is known as M. Bomhylifoi'mis^ or the bee-shai)ed Hawk moth. What still further aids the deception is that all these bee and wasp reseml)ling moths fly in daylight, not during the night, as do the vast majority of moths. A class of true day butterflies, common to tropical America, belonging to the genus Ithomia, also have the wings nearly devoid of the colored scales, and, conserpiently, are quite transpar- ent ; this, in addition to their slender, needle-like bodies, gives them con- siderable resemblance to dragon flies and other neuropterous insecKs. Not the least curious instance of involuntary mimicry is the remarkable resem- blance which some butterflies and moths bear to others of entirely and widely distinct genera, or even families. In our own country we have an instance in the common reddish Misippus Initterfly, {Limenitis 3Iisippus^ L.,) which is the close counterpart in shape, size, color, and markings to another common species, the Plexippus, (Danais Plexippus, L.,) which belongs to the Danaida-, a family widely separated from the flrst, which is one of the Nymphalidie. In Florida and other southern States is anol her species of Danais called Berenice, {Danais Berenice, Cr.,) which is dark brown, instead of the bright rust red of the more wide-spread Plexippus. Now the lirst mentioned species, Misippus, likewise occurs in the same lo- calities as Berenice, but, curious to relate, instead of being of the liright red color that is one of the leading features in its resemblance to Plexiitpus, it is in these southern exam])les of the same deep brown as Berenice. This Misi])[)us butterfly, I should add, is the only one of its genus that is red, the tyi)ical colors being black or dark brown, with a Avhite band cross- ing the wings, whilst the species of that group of Danai;^^ to which Plex- ij)pus and Berenice belongs are of reddish rust color, of darker or lighter shades. In connection with the preceding, I will mention the more curious, though analogous, case of the CMirysippus, {Danais Chrysippus, L.,) which occurs in most parts of Africa, Asia, the Paciflc islands, as well as in south-eastern Eurojje. This is, in its ordinary form, of a i)aler red than our Plexippus, more inclined to yellowish ; otherwise marked much in the same way. In Senegal there is a variety of it with white hind Avings, (X'aMa/.s v. Ah-ippiis, Cr.,) and in Syria and Abysinia is an alterrant form, in which the white spots contained in the l)lack patch near the points of the front wings, in the common form, is wanting. This variety is known as the Dorii)pus. (Danais v. Dorippus, King.) There is a genus of beautiful ]>utterflies in the family of Nymi)halida», called Diadema, whose colors are black, with bluish shades or patches, and in the shai)e of the wings it is fuller and rounder in outline than the afore- said Danais butterflies ; but now mark: the female, and that sex only, of one single si)ecies of these, (Diadema Bolina^ L.,) departs entirely from the normal black and bhu^ forms to such an extent as to resemble so closely the yellowish red Ohrysipinis, not only in color and ornamentation, l)ut even in shai)e, as to be almost undistinguishal)le from it. But, further, this feinale Diadema, when occurring in Senegal, sometimes varies in hav- ing the hind wings whitish, like the variety of C'hrisii)pus previously alluded 13 to from that country under the name of Alcippns. Ao-ain, in other in- stances it is found entirely without the white spots and black patch of front wings, thus beeomino- an exact imitation of the other variety Dorippus. All the males of the butterflies of the genus Danais have, on the second median nervule or vein of the hind wings, a small, hard, black knot-like spot, which is a sexual distinction, the females being entirely without it. So, to make the imitation still more nearly perfect, in the female of the Bolina butterlly there also are no traces of any such spot. So close is, in fact, the outward resemblance between these generically widely different insects, that the old authors ligured and described them as one and the same. Nor have I yet done with this marvelous freak and its adjuncts, for, " like the circle that ever returneth in to the selfsame spot," it lias led us back to the starting- point of this topic, the Misippus butterlly; for in this also occurs a variety in which the white and black si)ots and marks near the apices of the front wings are entirely gone, thus keei)ing up the same form exhibit^ed by the varieties of the other widely different insects Chrysippns and Bolina. I might go still further, tor in the green-colored butterflies of the African genus Eomalxosoma there is another of those red mimics. But I will cease, for the subject is a vast one, and as yet a mystery profound, even to science, which is utterly at a loss as to what are the causes. No one would imagine that these are the wild freaks of chance. Nature is methodical. Her law, like that of Heaven, is order. Everything is done in beautiful harmony. That this resemblance in these instances is for protection, as is strongly advocated, I do not believe. The species of Danais butterllies that are mimicked are nauseous and un- palatable to birds and predatory insects, and thus enjoy perfect immunity from such foes. It has on this account been reasoned that the Misippus, which resembles them, enjoys like immunity, on account of its livery being like theirs, and so totally unlike that of all its relations. This, however, is without a particle of foundation, beyond that existing in the imagination of its originators. The other species of Limenitis butterllies, (the genus to which Misippus belongs,) are just as common, sometimes more so where circumstances and surroundings are favorable. In the wilds of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, I saw, probably, one hundred of the Arthemis, (a species belonging to the same genus,) to every one of the Misippus, and it was not for want of foes that either escaped, for the dense forest was alive with l)irds, and the lace-like wings of the dragon-flies, (Aeschna, Agrion, etc..) glistened as they darted here and there, or hovered in mid-air over the pools and trout streams. In our neighborhood, near Reading, another species, Ephestion, (Limenitis Ejjhestion, Stoll,) which is black and blue, is found in about equal numbers with Misippus. In some localities, more westward, the first is commoner than the last named species. In South America the glades in the forests swarm with certain long narrow-winged bright-colored butterflies, belonging to various genera in the Danaidiv and Heliconid;v, which birds will not eat owing to their disagreeable taste and smell. These have analogues in appearance, which, for convenience sake we will call mimics, in several other families, especially among the Pierida?, or white b'utterflies, and in the Melitae;v, a genus of small butterflies, the normal forms of which have wings of a reddish or tawney color, marked with black. Now the genus of the Pieridjv, which mimics the narrow winged unpalatal)le Heliconidfc, and which technically is known by the name of Leptalis, contains just about the scarcest of all the butterflies in that family, and the nearer they approach the Heliconidaa in appearance, the scarcer they are in nearly all cases ; and the commonest of all are just the ones which recede furthest from the Heliconid^ and approach nearest 14 to tlie typical broad wini2:ed, white Pieris butterflies. Any one who has collected exotic butterflies will l)ear me out in this statement as to the ex- treme rarity of the si)ecies of Leptalis. In every collec' ion comino; from Central or South America, will be found great numbers of common forms of white and yellow Pierid;^^ but seldom indeed more than a few, if any, of the aberrant Lep^alid forms which re- semble so closely the Danaidiv and Heliconid.;\?. But I have di