GENUS. CERATOCAMPA, _Harris, Append. to Hitchcock's Geology of
Massachusets_. Cerocampa, _Kirby & Spence, Ind. Introd. to Ent._
Odonestis, _Germar. Stephens._ Lasiocampa, _Latr. Schrank._ Bombyx,
_Fabr._
CERATOCAMPA IMPERIALIS. Alis flavis, fusco irroratis et variegatis,
omnibus infra maculâ discoidali subocellari fuscâ. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc.
9 lin. [male].--6 unc. [female].)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Imperialis, _Drury, App. v._ 2.
Bombyx Imperialis, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 435. No. 89. _Gmel.
Lin._ S. N. 2417. 510.
Phalæna Imperatoria, _Abbot and Smith, Ins. Georgia, tab._ 55. _Oliv.
Enc. Méth._ 5. 56. 116.
Bombyx Didyma, _Pal. Beauv. Ins. Lep. pl._ 20.
HABITAT: New York (_Drury_). India (_Fabricius_).
_Upper Side._ The antennæ are of a reddish colour, broad and pectinated,
and, near the extremities, appear as if they were stripped of their
comb-like appendages. The thorax and abdomen yellow, clouded with a light
reddish-brown colour, inclining to crimson. The anterior wings are of a
fine bright yellow, with several clouds on them of the same brown colour,
whereof one takes its rise at the tips, and runs along the external edge
to the lower corners, being narrower at the extremities than the middle,
where it branches off, and unites to a large cloud near the shoulders.
The yellow parts of all the wings appear as if sprinkled with dark
irregular specks. The posterior wings are of the same bright yellow as
the anterior, and have, in the middle of each, a small brown eye, with a
lighter spot in its centre. An irregular bar of the same reddish brown
colour crosses these wings, which, beginning at the outer angle, meets at
the anal angle. The edges of all the wings are plain.
_Under Side._ The thorax and abdomen are yellow. All the wings are of the
same yellow colour, and sprinkled with brown as on the upper side. The
superior wings have on each a light reddish brown eye near the middle,
with a light spot in the centre, and a round brown spot above it. The
anterior margins next the body are of a reddish brown; and the same cloud
that appears along the external edge of each wing on the upper side,
appears also on this, but fainter. The inferior wings have a reddish
brown eye in each near the middle, with a lighter spot in the centre, and
of the same size as on the upper side.
The figure here given, is taken from the male; the female being much
larger, expanding full six inches; the antennæ being thread-like, and not
combed or pectinated as the male.
This species breeds twice in the year, namely in June and September. The
caterpillar, according to Abbot, feeds on the plane-tree (Platanus
occidentalis Linn.), oak, liquidambar, and pine trees. Some of them are of
a tawny colour, others tawny and orange, others green. They are furnished
with long rigid hairs, and the second and third segments of the body are
also armed with two pair of short, erect, rugose horns. {18}This insect is
placed by Mr. Kirby in his new genus Cerocampa, together with Phalæna
regalis, Fabr. Mr. Kirby had, however, evidently in view the caterpillars
of the latter insect, when he proposed this generic name, and which are
armed with numerous, long, erect, rigid spines, those near the head being
curved, and giving the insect somewhat the appearance of a cockatoo. This
larva is figured by Abbot and Smith, pl. 61, and specimens, admirably
preserved by Abbot, are contained in the collection of the Entomological
Society of London, presented by Mr. Kirby. There is also considerable
difference between the chrysalides of these two insects, that of imperialis
being more elongate, with a bifid tail, and with transverse rows of short
abdominal spines, of which the chrysalis of regalis is destitute. One of
the caterpillars observed by Abbot, went into the ground on the 16th of
September, and the moth came out on the 4th of July. They are extremely
difficult to rear in confinement.