In the following superfamilies vein is absent from both pairs of wings and the basal cell is not divided by the main stem of M.
Fore wings with base of vein near to that of hind wings without a frenulum or rarely with vein Sc+R, approximated to Rs beyond the cell and a frenulum present (fig. 18).
The principal family is the Lasiocampidae, which include moderate to large-sized insects densely scaled, with no functional mouth-parts and the antennae pectinated, especially in the males. The frenulum is replaced by a pro jecting humeral lobe at the base of the hind wing which underlies the fore wing. The caterpillars are densely clothed with soft hairs, often arranged partly in tufts and lateral flanges; pupation takes place in compact egg-like cocoons. Well-known examples include the lappet moths of Europe and America; the lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria) and its allies, whose young larvae con struct dense communal webs and are known as tent-caterpillars; and the eggar moths (Lasiocampa) of Europe. The Drepanidae or hook tips have a frenulum present and the fore wings in many species are falcate.
Fore wings with bases of veins near together; hind wings with a frenulum and vein Sc+R, remote from Rs beyond the cell (fig. 18a).
Included in this group are a very large number of species, and at least io,000 are comprised in the single family Noctuidae, or owlet moths. In the latter the areole or radial cell is usually present in the fore wings and vein Sc+R of the hind wings is fused with the cell near its base. They are mostly moths of dull coloration, flying at dusk or by night and are greatly attracted by the collector's sugar mixture. In Catocala and certain other genera the hind wings are often brightly coloured, but are con cealed by the fore wings when at rest (fig. 19). The larvae are rarely hairy and mostly pupate in earthen cells; many are exceed ingly destructive to crops, especially those known as "cut-worms" and "army worms" (fig. 20 ). The Lymantriidae or tussock-moths
are very closely allied to the Noctuidae, but are separable by the pectinated antennae in the males, and the haustellum is usually absent. Their larvae are densely hairy (fig. 33), the hair often being arranged in brushes or tufts, and in some species is very irritating to the skin. The pupae are provided with setae and are enclosed in cocoons often formed of the larval hairs incorporated with the silk. Among the best known species are the brown tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and the "nun" (L. monacha). The Arctii dae include the tiger moths and the ermine moths (fig. 21), and are very widely dis tributed. They differ from the Noctuidae in that vein Scd-R is fused with the cell to near or beyond the middle. Many of them are brightly coloured moths with conspicuously spotted or otherwise orna mental wings. Their larvae or "woolly bears" feed on herbaceous plants and are densely clothed with long hairs, which they utilize along with silk in spinning their cocoons. The footmen (subfamily Lithosiinae) are exceptional in being small, narrow-winged, sombre-coloured insects, whose larvae feed upon lichens. The Syntomidae are mainly tropical, and number about 2,000 species; in this family vein Sc+R is aborted or fused up with Rs. They are mostly brightly coloured day-flying moths, some of them bearing a striking resemblance to Hymenoptera; none are British and only a few species occur in Europe and North. America.
Fore wings with vein parallel to or approximated to M„. R, and R, joined to Hind wings with Sc+R, running close to or connected with the cell; frenulum present (fig. 22).
The largest group in this superfamily is the Geometrina (fig. 23), which are divided into several families; they are characterized