HETEROCERA TINEIDAE 



431 



classified with Psychidae, in which family, as we have pointed 

 out, one or two parthenogenetic forms are also known. 



The larvae of Tiueidae, though they do not exhibit the 

 remarkable armature found in so many of the larger caterpillars, 

 are exceedingly diverse. 1 Some are entirely destitute of feet 

 (Phyllocnistis). Others are destitute of the thoracic legs ; 

 Nepticula is in this case, but it is provided with an increased 

 number of abdominal feet, in the form of more or less imperfect 

 ventral processes. Some mine in leaves, others live in portable 

 cases of various forms. Some are leaf-miners during their 

 early life, and subsequently change their habits by con- 

 structing a portable case. The genus Coleopliora affords 

 numerous instances of this mode of life ; the habits of these 

 case-bearers exhibit considerable variety, and there are many 

 points of interest in their life-histories. Change of habit during 

 the larval life has already been alluded to as occurring in many 

 Lepidoptera and is now r here more strikingly exemplified than in 

 certain Tiueidae. Meyrick mentions the following case as 

 occurring in an Australian Insect, Nematobola orthotricha ; 2 the 

 larva, until two-thirds grown, is without feet, and is almost 

 colourless, and mines in the leaves of Persoonia lanceolate ; but 

 when two-thirds grown it acquires sixteen feet, changes colour, 

 becoming very variegate, and feeds externally, unprotected, on the 

 leaves. The cases of the case-bearing Tineids are usually of 

 small size, and do not attract attention like those of Psychidae. 

 A very remarkable one was discovered by Mr. E. E. Green in 

 Ceylon, and was at first believed to be formed by a Caddis-worm. 

 It has now been ascertained that the Insect forming it is the 

 caterpillar of Pseudodoxia limulus, a Tineid moth of the group 

 Depressariidae ; 3 the case is composed of minute fragments of 

 moss, sand, and lichens ; the anterior end is dilated into a shield- 

 like hood that covers and protects the anterior parts of the 

 larva when feeding ; the food is mosses and lichens on rocks and 

 trees. Before pupating, the larva folds down the edges of the 

 hood over the mouth of the tube, like an envelope, fastening 

 them with silk. The case is fixed to the rock or other support 

 and hangs there until the moth appears. 



1 For table of the larvae, according to number of feet and other characters, see 

 Sorhageu, Berlin, ent. Zeit. xxvii. 1883, pp. 1-8. 



2 P. Linn. Soc. N.S. W-ales (2) vii. 1892, p. 593. 



3 Durrant, Ent. Mag., xxxi. 1895, p. 107. 



