VI 



ERIOCEPHALIDAE MICROPTERYGIDAE 



435 



unlike our ideas of a Lepidopterous Insect ; " the former have a 

 snowy or mealy appearance, owkig to a close coating of minute 

 rods standing vertically on the surface of the egg, and often 

 tipped with a small bulb. The larva lives amongst wet moss 

 and feeds on the growing parts thereof; it is not very similar to 

 any other Lepidopterous larva : Dr. Chapman suggests a simi- 

 larity to the Slug-worms (Linmcodids), but Dyar is probably 

 correct in thinking the resemblances between the two are unim- 

 portant : the larva of Eriocephala possesses three pairs of thoracic 

 legs, and eight pairs of abdominal appendages, placed on the 

 segments immediately following the thorax ; on the under-surface 

 of the ninth and tenth abdominal segments there is a sucker, 

 trifoliate in form ; this is probably really situate entirely on the 

 tenth segment : the body bears rows of ball-appendages, and the 

 integument is beautifully sculptured. The head is retractile 

 and the antennae are longer than is usual in caterpillars. This 

 larva is profoundly different from other Lepidopterous larvae 

 inasmuch as the abdominal feet, or appendages, are placed on 

 different segments to what is customary, and are of a different 

 form. Unfortunately the pupa has not been procured, but there 

 is some reason for supposing that 

 it will prove to be more like that of 

 Tineidae than like that of Microp- 

 terygidae. 



The New Zealand genus Palaeo- 

 micra is only imperfectly known. 

 Meyrick considers it the " most 

 ancient " Lepidopteron yet dis- 

 covered ; and it would appear that 

 its relations are with EriocepJidla 

 rather than with Micropteryx. From 

 information he has kindly given to 

 us, we are able to say that this moth 



possesses mandibles but no proboscis. 



FIG. 210. 



Fam. 47. Micropterygldae.- 



Small moths of metallic colours, 



without mandibles, with elongate 



maxillary palpi : without frenulum : both wings with a complex 



system of wing-veins : on the hind wings the area anterior to 



the cell is large, and traversed by three or four elongate, parallel 



B 



Larva of Micropteryx sp. 

 A, Ventral view of the larva, 

 magnified ; B, the same, with 

 setae unduly magnified. Britain. 



