SATURNIA PROMETHEA. Alis subfalcatis, maris fuscis, foeminæ ferrugineis,
fasciâ tenui undatâ communi pallidâ margine griseo, anticis utrinque
ocello atro. (Expans. Alar. 4 unc. [male]. 4 unc. 3 lin. [female].)
SYN. Phalæna (Attacus) Promethea, _Drury, App. vol._ 2. _Fabr. Ent.
Syst._ III. 1. 411. _No._ 12. _Gmel. Linn. S. N._ 2403. 464. _Cram. Ins.
tab._ 75. A. B. [male]. 76. A. B. [female]. _Abbot & Smith Ins. Georgia_,
1. _tab._ 46. _Oliv. Enc. Méth._ 5. 27. 12. _Pal. Bauv. Ins. d'Afr. et
d'Amer. Lep. pl._ 21.
HABITAT: New York, Virginia, Georgia.
MALE.--_Upper Side._ Antennæ strongly pectinated, dark brown. Head,
thorax, and abdomen the same. Anterior wings very dark chocolate, hooked
at the tips; having a margin of light hair colour running along the
external edges from the tips to the lower corners, through the middle of
which runs a narrow black serpentine line like a hair, dividing the
margin into two shades, the external one being darkest; near the tips is
a black spot like an eye, partly surrounded by a blue iris; a narrow
waved line of a light hair colour begins at the anterior edge, about
one-third from the tips, and, crossing both the anterior and posterior
wings, ends about half an inch below the body. Posterior wings of the
same colour as the anterior, having a hair-coloured margin running round
them; being also divided in the middle by a waved narrow line, above
which are several dark-coloured spots and marks.
_Under Side._ Breast, legs, and abdomen of a beautiful dark chocolate
colour. Anterior wings at the base dark chocolate, with a small single
spot in the middle of each; about a third part of these wings, next the
external edges, is hair-coloured, appearing next the chocolate part to be
thickly powdered with grey, so as to form a margin along the chocolate
part of that colour. The black eye, and hair-coloured margin, as on the
upper side. The middle of the posterior wings fine chocolate, surrounded,
except at the abdominal edges, with hair colour, and like the superior
finely powdered and verged with grey; about the middle of the chocolate
field is a small transverse white streak; the hair-coloured margin less
distinct. Margins of all the wings entire.
{21}FEMALE.--_Upper Side._ Antennæ brown and pectinated. Thorax and
abdomen red brown. Anterior wings dark red next the body, from whence a
narrow light-coloured bar begins at the anterior edge, and running
towards the posterior suddenly turns off and ends at the body, forming an
obtuse angle; another light-coloured waved bar crosses the wings, ending
on the abdominal edges a little below the body; the inner side of this
bar is a dark chocolate, and between it and the angle of the first bar is
placed a light-coloured triangular mark; near the tips is placed a small
black eye, partly surrounded by a blue iris; along the external margins
of all the wings runs a dark buff edge, through the middle of which runs
a small narrow line; the space between this margin and the waved bar is
of a dark red, finely powdered next the bar with grey. Posterior wings,
within the waved bar, dark brown chocolate; the hairs along the abdominal
edges greyish; and on the middle of the chocolate ground is a
light-coloured triangular mark; several submarginal red spots of
different sizes, with a small narrow irregular line running between them
and the cilia; the space between this margin and the waved bar is dark
red, that next the bar is powdered as it were very thickly with small
grey spots like dust.
_Under Side._ Breast, legs, and abdomen dark red, the sides streaked with
white. Anterior wings having only two divisions, separated by the waved
bar mentioned above: the inner division of a fine bright chocolate,
whereon the small triangular marks are faintly seen; the external
division as on the upper side, but with the markings more distinct.
Posterior wings with the part answering to the dark brown chocolate being
of a fine dark red, verged with black and white, and surrounded entirely,
except the abdominal edges, by the grey powdered field. Margins entire.
The transformations to which Lepidopterous insects are subject are amongst
the most remarkable phenomena of insect life. In the different states to
which each is liable, a series of changes is exhibited which has been
compared, by an admired writer, to what might be supposed to be undergone
by an animal which for the first five years of its life, exhibited the form
of a serpent, which then penetrated into the earth, spun for itself a
silken coffin, contracting itself into a limbless form resembling, more
than any thing else, an Egyptian mummy; and which, lastly, after remaining
in this state for a length of time, burst into the air a winged bird. Of
these states, it may well be conceived, that the second requires, from its
inactivity and helplessness, a secure retreat, where, removed and secure
from the attack of its enemies, it can rest its appointed period during
which the organs of flight acquire their full development. We accordingly
find that the varied manner in which the caterpillars of the different
species prepare their retreats, affords one of the most interesting
branches of investigation in the natural history of the Lepidoptera. And in
this respect, the species now under consideration certainly exhibits one of
the most interesting manoeuvres hitherto recorded amongst the insect
tribes, and which is described by Mr. Peale in his beautiful "Lepidoptera
Americana."[2] This moth is very abundant in the vicinity of Philadelphia,
at least, judging from the number of cocoons seen hanging from the branches
of the Sassafras (Laurus Sassafras), and Spice-wood (L. Benzoin); and
which, by an ordinary observer, would be readily mistaken for withered
leaves which had withstood the blasts of winter. After the caterpillar has
attained its full size, and lost the voracious {22}appetite which had
hitherto been its predominant character, it begins its preparation for the
great transformation it has to undergo, by selecting a perfect leaf, the
upper surface of which it covers with a fine light yellowish brown silk,
extending this coating with great skill and foresight, _over the footstalk
of the leaf_, and attaching it firmly to the branch, so as to secure the
leaf from being separated by any accident. This preliminary operation
having been accomplished, the caterpillar next draws the edges of the leaf
together, thus forming a perfect external covering or mantle, in which it
spins a fine strong and durable cocoon of fine silk. In this habitation the
little architect passes the winter secure from birds and other enemies. As
soon as the cocoon has been completed, the caterpillar sheds its skin, and
is transformed into a chrysalis. At first the leaf enveloping the cocoon
remains green, but soon changes to a red or brown, when it becomes brittle,
and is gradually carried away by the winds and storms of winter, until,
finally, nothing remains except the cocoon itself, which is firmly
suspended by the silk which once covered the footstalk of the leaf.
Mr. Abbot states that the caterpillar also feeds upon the Snowdrop-tree
(Halesia tetraptera, Linn.) Poplar, Bay, &c. Some individuals spin up in
May, and the moth appears in June; others, as above described, pass the
winter in the chrysalis state.