Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-20
produced from this caterpillar has a

produced from this caterpillar has a
thick body, and is called, both in
America and in Europe, the holly leaved
loppet moth. The silk worm and its
moth have Ii near relation to the loppet
species, but we must not so classify them,
for they are producers, not consumers.
They eat, to be sure, but they supply an
important branch Of human industry.
There are, however, several kinds of
caterpillars In the United States whose
cocoons are made of silk, but it is not
utilized These devour the leaves of
trees and shrubby plants, and because
their produce is not taken in exchange
they are classed with insects destructive
to vegetation. This group contains some
OF the largest insects of the order. The
moth has great extent and breadth of
wings, thick, woolly body, and an
tenn@ that are widely feathered on both
sides, from one end to the other. It's
wings are spread, not only when flying,
but when at rest. Each female produces
several hundred eggs every season.
This moth is rendered more conspicuous
by its extreme beauty. The species
beauty, as Luna Cor the noon was
POLITICALLY styled by the Romans 'the
fair Empress of the night" The artist
could produce nothing more charming in
dehcacy and variety of colors than is
found on the spacious wings of this
moth. The caterpillar of this insect
lives on walnut and hickory. 1t is fully
grown the last of July or during
the month of August. When at rest
1t Is nearly as thick as
mans thumb, but not more
than two inches long. But when in mo-
ton it extends to the length of three
inches or more. When the period for
eating and growth has passed it proceeds
to make its cocoon by drawing together
two or three leaves of the tree with silken
threads, and within this hollow spinning
strong environment in which the
chrysalis is found. These cocoons fall
from the trees with the leaves in the
autumn, and the moth escapes from them
In the. June following A still larger
species of this insect is called the Attacus
CecrOpia. Its wings expand more than
SIX inches, and its hind wings are round
ed and not tailed, like the species last
mentioned. On the Luna moths wings
there are four eye-like spots, being trans
parent in the center and encircled by
rings of white, red, yellow and black.
The spots on the Ahacus' wings are
Opaque, of dull red color, and kidney
shaped, having a white center and
narrow black edging. Beyond his spot
there is wavy dull red band boTdered
with white. The caterpillar of this
moth is found on the apple, cherry, and
plum tree, and also on currant and bar
berry bushes. 1t spins its cocoon in
September, and hangs it on some tw1g
of tree or bush in a longitudinal direc-
ton; it is double, having two coats. The
outer coat is cut open, while the inner
one Is lined with a quantity of yellow
brown strong silk. This insect remains
in the chrysahs form through the winter,
and the moth comes forth the following
summer. There are four species of
moths belonging to the genus Attacats.
Their larger cocoons are made entirely
of silk, the tibres of which are stronger
than those employed in the formation of
fabrics in India. Yet these have never
been worked successfully. Several at
tempts have been made to unwind the
cocoons of the CecrOpia moth, but,
though the silk is found much stronger
than the foreign manufacture, for some
reasons it has not been found profitable.
1t may, however, yet succeed, and even
these moths may be classed among
our benefactors. --Scientst ia the Hlts-
bandR0R.