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Stratton-Porter, Gene, 1863-1924

"Moths of the Limberlost"

The caterpillar feeds on
willow. The Catocala of the yellow "after-wings" is commonly
called the Bride, because Neogama, its scientific name, means
recently wedded. Its caterpillar feeds on walnut leaves.
"If you will examine the under side of the body of a Catocala moth
you will find near the junction of the thorax and abdomen on either
side, large open organs reminding one of the ears of a grasshopper,
which are on the sides of the first abdominal segment. Examine
the bodies of Sphinges and other moths for these same openings.
They appear to be ears. Catocala moths feed on juices, and live
most of the summer season. Numbers of them have been found sipping
sap at a tree freshly cut and you know we take them at night with
bait.
"New Orleans sugar and cider or sugar and stale beer are the usual
baits. This 'concoction'is put on the bodies of trees with a
brush, between eight and ten o'clock at night. During good Catocala
years, great numbers of these moths may be taken as they feed at
the sweet syrup.


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