A Comparative Study of the Poison Apparatus of Certain Lepidopterous Larvae*

Abstract

That certain Lepidopterous larvae possess poisonous hairs or spines is a fact well known to all entomologists. A real knowledge of such species, however, in general relates to such well known forms as Automeris io Fab., Hemileuca maia Drury, or certain of the EucleidA¦ such as the saddle-back, Sibine stimulea Clem. To those within the belt infested by the brown-tail, Euproctis chrysorrhea Linn., the severe urticating properties of the larval spicules of this form are only too familiar. Yet, outside of these few forms, most entomologists consider the Lepidoptera as being harmless so far as any direct effect upon man is concerned.