. As nature shows them : moths and butterflies of the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains : with over 400 photographic illustrations in the text and many transfers of species from life. Lepidoptera; Nature prints. SPHINXES. 139 SPHINGID^. Dushflijers. The interesting group of moths that come under tliis head have long been favorites with collectors. Their trim, graceful shapes, the pleasing tints and large size of many of the species, combined with the grotesque attitudes assumed by the larvae, make them objects of unusual interest. The name " Sphinx moths" was given to the gr
. As nature shows them : moths and butterflies of the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains : with over 400 photographic illustrations in the text and many transfers of species from life. Lepidoptera; Nature prints. SPHINXES. 139 SPHINGID^. Dushflijers. The interesting group of moths that come under tliis head have long been favorites with collectors. Their trim, graceful shapes, the pleasing tints and large size of many of the species, combined with the grotesque attitudes assumed by the larvae, make them objects of unusual interest. The name " Sphinx moths" was given to the group by Linnpeus on account of a fanciful resemblance which the. Larva of Sphinx Moth. larvse bear while at rest to the fabled Sphinx. Clasping the twig with the posterior feet the caterpillar raises the forward part of the body and remains in this attitude sometimes for hours. Tliese insects also go b}^ the common name of Humming-bii'd moths, from the habit of the insects, which while poised on rapidly vibrating wings extract the honey from the flowers. Hawk moths, too, is a name given this group, probably from the strong, direct flight of the insects. These moths have powerful, long, narrow wings, particularly the upper pair, and stout s[)indle-shaped bodies. The antenna are stout, thickened in the middle and usually supplied with a curved hook at the tip. The tongue is often very long, although in some species it is short. The eyes are large and prominent. In one group the wings are transparent, resembling in this respect the jEgeriadce. They have strong, Avell-developed legs. Most of the species fly only at dusk of morning and evening, while others fly late into the night, and a few only in the daytime in the hot sunshine. The larvae are usuall}^ smooth, naked caterpillars, green in color, with oblique light stripes along the sides, and supplied with a sharp curved horn on the top of the next to the last segment. In some species this caudal. Please note that these images are
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbayerfrederickmformer, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
