LIBRARY

492 COLLEGE ENTOMOLOGY
uni- to multi-voltine (with one to five generations a year), depending upon the
length of season and temperature of the localities in which they live. The
cocoons are either closed or opened at one end.
Actias selene Hubner of China, Japan, India, and Ceylon feeds on native
deciduous forest trees and shrubs and fruit trees and produces a silk that is
used but little. The cocoons are thin, irregularly shaped, and closed.
The muga silkworm, AntheTl£a assamensis Helfer (= assam Westwood), is a
wild and semidomesticated species which has been tended extensively in the
FIG. 162. Adult silkworm moths emerging from cocoons and mating. (Photo purchaseCl in
Japan by E, Gorton LinSley, 1930.)
Himalayas of India. It produces up to five generations a year. The caterpillars
feed on Machilus, Tetranthera, SympZocos, and cinnamon, and produce white
or amber (Umuga" means amber) coCOons. A spine on each fore wing assists
the moths in emerging from the cocoons in this and other members of the
genus. Expanse 150-170 mm. The tasar, tusser, or tassah silkworm, A. paphia
(Linn.) (== mylitta Drury), is a valuable wild and semidomesticated species
with from one to two generations a year. The caterpillars feed on a wide
variety of common broad-leaved trees - figs, oaks, crape myrtle, ber, asan,
sal, etc. - and spin large suspended cocoons of brownish, reddish, or yellowish
silk which is readily reelable. The speCies occurs in China, India. Ceylon, and
parts of Malaysia. Expanse 140-190 rom. The Chinese oak silkworm, A.pernyi