THE CECROPIA MOTH.
REST H. METCALF.
THE cecropia, a lepidopterous insect of the family Bombycidiæ, is the largest and most beautiful of our American moths. It is quite generally distributed throughout the United States.
The large wings, measuring from five to six inches, are covered with dusky brown scales, the borders richly variegated and beautifully marked, the anterior ones having near the tops a dark spot resembling an eye, and both pairs of wings having kidney-shaped red spots.
The caterpillar or larva is nearly as beautiful in color as the perfect moth, being about three inches long, of a light green color with coral red, yellow and blue warts with short black bristles near its head. It feeds on the leaves of nearly every species of forest fruit and shade trees, till late in August or September; then it descends from the trees to seek some shrub upon which to fasten its winter home. Occasionally they will be satisfied with a location in a tree-top, but not often.
This home building is exceedingly interesting, and although you can watch them only for a few hours you still linger near and imagine what you cannot see.
When the right location is found it spins a very strong thread for the outside, fastening it securely to a small branch, and going back and forth with this strong silk until it assumes its proper shape and proportion. You will find it almost impossible to tear it open with your fingers, and only a sharp knife will enable you to see the contents. This strong outside is necessary for protection, as the woodpeckers are very fond of the larva and imago. After this strong outside is completed the silk is woven very loosely between it and the cocoon proper. This serves as a blanket for warmth, so that the baby moth is as safe from severe winter cold and storms as a baby child in its cradle.
The inner room of this home or the cocoon proper is made of very fine silk, which can be readily reeled off, and we are told that it has been carded and spun and knit into stockings that washed like linen, and that cloth woven from this silk is much more durable than that made by the silk worm.
But for the delicate character of the larvæ, which are very difficult to raise, it would become an important article of commerce.