96 



male. None of the species included here have dorsal movement be 

 tween any of the segments cephalad of the fourth. In this they differ 

 from the superfamilies Pyralidoidea and Papilionoidea, some mem- 

 bers of which retain dorsal movement of the third abdominal segment. 

 This group includes all the most specialized families. The origin of 

 most of these is doubtful. The Noctuoidea show the strongest rela- 

 tionship to the Pyralidoidea; the Notodontoidea, to the Gelechioidea. 

 All the evidence at present points to the fact that the Pyralidoidea and 

 Gelechioidea have descended from a common ancestor closely allied 

 to the Yponomeutoidea. The Sphingoidea and Saturnioidea, which 

 show considerable relationship to each other, seem to have arisen from 

 a common stem with the more generalized Bombycoidea, which in 

 turn seem nearly related to the Noctuoidea and Notodontoidea. 



Superfamily YPONOMEUTOIDEA 



The families included here show well-developed labial palpi, and 

 have a large portion of the prothoracic femora exposed. All show 

 the maxillary palpi except the Coleophoridae, and the same arrange- 

 ment of parts prevails throughout the superfamily. The epicranial 

 suture is present in all families. The prothorax is always very short 

 on the meson, but much longer on each lateral margin so that each half 

 is triangular. The appendages always reach beyond the caudal mar- 

 gin of the fourth segment, and in some cases are almost as long as the 

 body. They are soldered firmly to each other but are free from the 

 body wall. Abdominal segments 1-4 are longer than any of the 

 others. There are usually spines or setae present at the caudal end 

 of the body but seldom a cremaster. The pupae are usually less than 

 10 mm. in length. The families may be separated by the following 

 table : 



a. Cremaster present, but short, with hooked setae at the distal end; 

 ninth abdominal segment with a deep lateral cavity on each side ; 



seventh abdominal segment free in the male Epermeniidae. 



aa. Cremaster absent ; ninth abdominal segment never with a deep lat- 

 eral cavity ; seventh abdominal segment fixed in both sexes. 

 b. Maxillary palpi present; caudal end of body without lateral pro- 

 longations ending in spines Yponomeutidae. 



bb. Maxillary palpi never present; caudal end of body with lateral 

 prolongations ending in sharp spines Coleophoridae. 



Family Epermeniidae 



This family, which has usually been combined with the Elachisti- 

 dae, or, by some writers, with the Scythridae, is here associated with 



