The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-03-15

rows, tenceS, eldefB, ana SUCH things,
ready, when spring comes, to break
their prison-cell and get a new lease
on life.
The most interesting belong to the
lepidopterous family; This family may
be divided into two divisions, VIZ.
moths and butterflies
Now 1t is not easy to tell moth
from a butterfly, since they resemble
each other very much. both in color
and form
There are three distinct differences
first, moths have larger bodies than
butterflies, and the body is woolly;
second, the attenae OF the butterflies
end in fiat pod, and those of moths
do not; third, the wings of the butter
fly are erect while the insect is at
rest, whereas those of the moth are
lowered to the body or nearly SO. A
great many species of both families
are found in our COUNTY. The follow
ing specimens are best known: The
mora sphinx or hawk moth is a well
known insect. In its larva state 1t IS
known as the tobacco worm" or "to-
mato worm" The larva is large 1e-
footed caterpillar With a short horn on
the 11th segment.
At the proper time the larva buries
itself in the earth where it transforms
itself into a brown chrysalis. In the
early summer 1t brings forth large
gray-colored moth. This moth feeds
on the nectar of different flowers. such
as the petunia, tobacco, jimson. 1t
may readily be known for it flies only
in the evening, and may be seen how
ering over these flowers at that time
of day.
The polyphemus is a fine moth to
study 1t is known as the American
silk worm" Like the Cecropia, 1t
hangs its pupa in , large cocoon,
which may be found now on fence
posts, elders, and hedgerows. The lar
va is large green worm very rough
and ugly. The moth is very large,
spreading and inches; it is yellow
ish brown, with 2 round spots on each
wing. The ,attenae are feathery, brown
and very pretty, the thorax is woolly,
the legs hairy. The writer placed a
cocoon of this moth in box, kept it
till the moth came. forth. 1t was fine
specimen of its kind, colorings bright,
the attenae resembling little brown
plumes. The most interesting thing
about the affair was that notwithstand-
ing that no other, ,polyphemus moth
had been seen that spring, yet with
in an hour after the imprisoned moth
was liberated another moth of the
same specie joined it! 1t is strange
how the meeting was effected. Anoth-
er fine insect 10 study is the turnus Or
the swallow TAIL" u is very large
butterfly, yellow, with wings margined
with black bands, and black bands
crossing the wings, giving it it's more
common name of "tiger-swallowtail." /"
The finest specie Of moth that we
have in this county Is the luna-cornea;
this is very large one, of pale
green color. Each wing has spot re-
sembling half moon, hence the name.
The larvae feed on hickory, sassa-
fras, and maple. This specie is rath-
er rare, but interesting for study.
The cabbage butterfly, while pest,
Is very interesting 1t comes about the
middle of May, lays its eggs on the
under side of the cabbage leaves.
These eggs are fastened with ce.
ment. The butterfly Is white on the
upper side of the wing, yellowish on
the lower side and fringed on the out
er edge. with black. The larvae are
blush green worms, whose business 1t
is to eat cabbage. They hatch in from
three to five days, and feed for about
six weeks. A.
| Then they find convenient place
fasten the tail end" to the point OF
contact, wind q fine thread about the
upper part Of the body, and hang there
for few hours when 10! ohrysalis is
formed. In six or seven days the but
terfly comes forth! This new crop OF
butterflies go about their business OF
laying eggs for later Matching Of
worms.
The ichneumen fly destroys many OF
these worms. She deposits her eggs
in the body of the cabbage worm. Oi
course when the eggs of the icbneu
men fly hatch their larvae feed OF
the worms and destroy them.
The troilus is beautiful butterfly
expanding about A inches. Any one
may easily recognize it. 1t is black
with yellow marginal spots on the
front wings, and blue spots on the real
wings.
The morpho, a highly-colored med
inm-sized butterfiy--may be easily rec
opnizad bv ita activity its wings be