. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 38o LEPIDOPTERA ment, which is of peculiar form, specially suitable for the purpose. The caterpillar, when wishing to enlarge its case, builds it up from excrement " flattened at the sides, so as to adapt it for building ; ^ Fam. 9. Sphingidae {Hawk-moths).âA very important family of moths of large or moderate size. They have a pro- boscis which is frec^uently very long; there is a frenulum; the body is stouter than in most other Lepidoptera, and the wings are of small superficies in comparison with it; the antennae are somewhat pecu
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 38o LEPIDOPTERA ment, which is of peculiar form, specially suitable for the purpose. The caterpillar, when wishing to enlarge its case, builds it up from excrement " flattened at the sides, so as to adapt it for building ; ^ Fam. 9. Sphingidae {Hawk-moths).âA very important family of moths of large or moderate size. They have a pro- boscis which is frec^uently very long; there is a frenulum; the body is stouter than in most other Lepidoptera, and the wings are of small superficies in comparison with it; the antennae are somewhat peculiar, liaving a thick, solid appearance, pointed at the tip. This is usually somewhat hooked, and bears a few hairs. In the males the antennae are formed in a manner specially characteristic of the family. In section, each joint shows a chitinous process on the under side (Fig. 189, A), forming with that of the other joints a continuous ridge, and on each Fig. 1S9. â Antennae of Sphingidae. A, One joint of an- tenna pf Choero- campa elpenor S, enlarged ; B, tliree joints of antenna of Sphinx liffnstn, seen from one side, and enlarged. side of this ridge there exists a series of short, delicate " cilia " â arranged in a very beautiful manner (Fig. 189, B). This structure, with some modifications, appears to be usually present in the family; it attains a very perfect development in cases where the tips of two rows of cilia liend towards one another, meeting so as to form an arched cavity. This structure is different from what occurs in the males of other families of Lepidoptera, for though cilia are very common, they are usually placed either on two projections from the body of the antennae (instead of on the two sides of a single projection), or there is but a single whorl, or set, of them on each joint {Catocala, etc.). The front wings are usually pointed at the tip, and are long in proportion to their width; but in the Smerinthini they are of different form, with
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1895
