Subfamily Phycitinae 



This group is, for the most part, easily distinguished from other 

 pyralids by the presence of the suture on the dorsum of the abdomen 

 between the ninth and tenth segments, the presence of maxillary palpi, 

 and, usually, of the epicranial suture. Of the genera examined, 

 Ephestia and Plodia alone were without this dorsal furrow, and they 

 possess tubular spiracles on the mesothorax. These two genera seem 

 rather more closely related in many respects to the Pyralinae than to 

 the Phycitinae. The maxillary palpi always extend to the proximo- 

 lateral angles of the maxillae, and the epicranial suture is present in 

 all genera examined but Pinipestis and Mineola, though it is very near 

 to the suture between the head and prothorax. The vertex is usually 

 represented by a small triangular area adjacent to each antenna. The 

 lobes enclosing the pilifers meet on the meson in some genera. The 

 genera of Phycitinae may be separated as follows : 



a. Dorsal surface without a prominent furrow separating the ninth and 

 tenth abdominal segments ; mesothoracic spiracles tubular. 

 1). Abdominal segments punctate ; maxillae reaching the caudal mar- 

 gin of the wings Epliestia Guenee. 



bb. Abdominal segments smooth ; maxillae never reaching the caudal 



margin of the wings Plodia Guenee. 



aa. Dorsal surface with a prominent furrow separating the ninth and 

 tenth abdominal segments; mesothoracic spiracles never tubular, 

 their exact position usually difficult to determine, 

 b. Body depressed ; tenth abdominal segment with the caudal end dis- 

 tinctly margined and with six straight setae inserted on the ven- 

 tral side of the margin Acrobasis Zeller. 



bb. Body never depressed ; tenth abdominal segment never with the 

 caudal end distinctly margined or with setae inserted on the 

 ventral side of the margin, 

 c. Caudal end of body with four long hooked setae, and on each 

 side of these a short spine or hooked seta extending laterad. 

 d. Tenth abdominal segment with lateral spines very different 

 from the caudal setae, 

 e. Ninth abdominal segment with a lateral spine on each 

 side similar to those on the tenth segment, and two 

 hooked setae on the dorsum adjacent to the caudal mar- 

 gin ; caudal hooked setae equidistant. . .Mineola Hulst. 

 ee. Ninth abdominal segment without lateral spines or 

 hooked setae on the dorsum adjacent to the caudal 

 margin, 

 f. Caudal spines not adjacent; equidistant; of equal 

 length . Meroptera Grote. 



