Moths of the Limberlost | Page 9

fact, and from the direction of a little tree-filled plot
called Studabaker's woods. Some of them we could distinguish almost
a block away coming straight toward the Cabin, and sailing around the
eastern corner with the precision of hounds on a hot trail. How they
knew, the Almighty knows; I do not pretend to; but that there was
odour distilled by that one female, practically imperceptible to us (she
merely smelled like a moth), yet of such strength as to penetrate screen,
vines, and roses and reach her kind a block away, against considerable
breeze, I never shall believe.
The fact is, that moths smell like other moths of the same species, and
within a reasonable radius they undoubtedly attract each other. In the
same manner birds carry a birdlike odour, and snakes, frogs, fish, bees,
and all animals have a scent peculiar to themselves. No dog mistakes
the odour of a cat for that of another dog. A cow does not follow the
scent of horses to find other cattle. No moth hunts a dragon-fly, a
butterfly, or in my experience, even a moth of another species in its
search for a mate. How male moths work the miracles I have seen them
accomplish in locating females, I cannot explain. As the result of acts
we see them perform, we credit some forms of life with much keener
scent than others, and many with having the power more highly
developed than people. The only standard by which we can determine
the effect that the odour of one insect, bird, or animal has upon another
is by the effect it has upon us. That a male moth can smell a female a
block away, against the wind, when I can detect only a faint musky
odour within a foot of her, I do not credit.
Primarily the business of moths is to meet, mate, and deposit eggs that
will produce more moths. This is all of life with those that do not take
food. That they add the completing touch and most beautiful form of
life to a few exquisite May and June nights is their extra good fortune,
not any part of the affair of living. With moths that feed and live after
reproduction, mating and egg placing comes first. In all cases the rule is
much, the same. The moths emerge, dry their wings, and reach full
development the first day. In freedom, the females being weighted with

eggs seldom attempt to fly. They remain where they are, thrust out the
egg placer from the last ring of the abdomen and wait. By ten o'clock
the males, in such numbers as to amaze a watcher, find them and
remain until almost morning. Broad antennae, slenderer abdomen, and
the claspers used in holding the female in mating, smaller wings and
more brilliant markings are the signs by which the male can be told in
most cases. In several of the Attacine group, notably Promethea, the
male and female differ widely in markings and colour. Among the
other non-feeders the difference is slight. The male Regalis has the
longest, most gracefully curved abdomen and the most prominent
claspers of any moth I ever examined; but the antennae are so delicate
and closely pressed against the face most of the time as to be concealed
until especially examined. I have noticed that among the moths bearing
large, outstanding antennae, the claspers are less prominent than with
those having small, inconspicuous head parts. A fine pair of antennae,
carried forward as by a big, fully developed Cecropia, are as
ornamental to the moth as splendidly branching antlers are to the head
of a deer.
The female now begins egg placing. This requires time, as one of these
big night moths deposits from three hundred and fifty to over six
hundred eggs. These lie in embryonic state in the abdomen of the
female. At her maturity they ripen rapidly. When they are ready to
deposit, she is forced to place them whether she has mated or not. In
case a mate has found her, a small pouch near the end of her abdomen
is filled with a fluid that touches each egg in passing and renders it
fertile. The eggs differ with species and are placed according to family
characteristics. They may be pure white, pearl-coloured, grey, greenish,
or yellow. There are round, flat, and oblong eggs. These are placed
differently in freedom and captivity. A moth in a natural location glues
her eggs, often one at a time, on the under or upper side of leaves.
Sometimes she dots several in a row, or again makes a number of rows,
like a little beaded mat. One authority I have consulted states that "The
eggs are always laid by the female in a state