Plate XXIV. fig. 1.
ORDER: Lepidoptera. SECTION: Nocturna. FAMILY: Bombycidæ.
GENUS. ACTIAS, _Leach._ Saturnia, _Schrank._ Attacus, _Germar._ Phalæna
(Attacus), _Linn._
ACTIAS LUNA. Alis caudatis flavo-virentibus concoloribus, ocello disci
lunato, margine antico anticarum purpureo. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc. 6 lin.)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Luna, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 2. 810. _No._ 5. _Catesby
Carolina, 2nd vol. p._ 85. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ III. 1. _p._ 414. _No._ 22.
_Gmel. Linn. S. N._ 2404. 5. _Abbot & Smith Ins. Georgia, pl._ 48. _Oliv.
Enc. Méth._ 5. 29. 20. _Pal. Beauv. Ins. Afr. & Am. Lep. pl._ 22. _f._ 3.
_Leach Zool. Misc. v._ 2. (Actias L.)
HABITAT: New York, Carolina, Virginia, Maryland.
_Upper Side._ Antennæ brown, and strongly pectinated. The head white,
small, and almost hid under the shoulders and neck, having a small brown
ring encircling it. Thorax pale yellow, having a chocolate or dark brown
line crossing it, parallel with the margins of the anterior wings. All
the wings are of a beautiful pea-green colour; the nerves being of a pale
red brown. Along the anterior margin of the anterior wings runs a
chocolate line, which is narrowed towards the tips. About an inch from
the shoulders springs from this line a small curved one, which, bending
towards the middle of the wing, terminates in a small eye, pointed in the
lower part, whose pupil is transparent like glass; the iris being partly
red and partly black, within which are semicircles of white; external
margin of the wings, red brown; the posterior being white. Posterior
wings furnished with two broad tails, which, at their extremities, appear
as if they were crimped; their external edges being red brown. In the
middle of each of these wings is likewise an eye, similar to, but rather
larger than those in the anterior ones. Abdomen white.
_Under Side._ Abdomen white, the sides being of a dark clay colour. All
the wings are of the same colour as on the upper side; the nerves being
browner and more conspicuous, without the brown edge on the anterior
pair; the eyes themselves are the same as on that side. The anterior
margin of the inferior wings is white, and the eyes strongly resemble
those of an animal having them half shut.
Drury's correspondent informed him that the caterpillar of this handsome
moth is red, and feeds on the leaves of the sassafras tree. When they are
full-fed they inclose themselves in a strong case composed of the substance
of the tree, and a glutinous matter which they secrete. They appear in June
and August. The caterpillar, however, figured by Abbot is green, with short
hairs scattered over the body, and with about eight small red {46}spots on
each segment, placed transversely. This author also states that it feeds
upon the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua, Linn.), different kinds of
walnut, and the Persimon (Diospyros Virginiana). One of them spun up on the
31st of May, and came out on the 8th of June; another on the 23rd of June,
and came out on the 10th of July; and a third, which did not spin up until
the 6th of September, remained in the chrysalis till the 3rd of March. It
continues breeding throughout the summer, but is not very plentiful.