100 



quadrangular. This is the only family of Gelechioidea which retains 

 both labial palpi and exposed portions of the prothoracic femora. The 

 appendages have the characteristic arrangement of the superfamily 

 (Fig. 88) except that the antennae do not separate near their distal 

 end to expose a portion of the metathoracic legs, but these are seen 

 caudad of the antennae adjacent on the meson. The wings are long 

 and pointed in Lophoptilus, but rounded in Laverna. The first four 

 abdominal segments are longer than the remaining caudal segments 

 in this family, and the appendages are soldered to them, but are free 

 for the remainder of their length. This family has been considered as 

 a subfamily of Elachistidae by most authors, and has usually included 

 Cosmopteryx, which is a much more specialized genus. The following 

 table will serve to separate the genera of Lavernidae : 



a. Head long, somewhat pointed, the length more than half the greatest 

 width ; f ronto-clypeal suture making an acute angle at meson ; spines 

 of the tenth segment extending dorsad and not visible in ventral 

 view ; exposed part of metathoracic leg about one fifth the length of 

 the portion of the antennae lying adjacent on the meson. 



Loplioptilus Sircom. 

 aa. Head short, blunt, the length about equal to half the greatest width ; 

 f ronto-clypeal suture making an obtuse angle at meson ; spines of 

 tenth segment extending laterad and visible in ventral view ; ex- 

 posed part of metathoracic leg about equal in length to the portion 

 of the antennae lying adjacent on the meson Laverna Curtis. 



Family Scythridae 



The pupae of this family also resemble the Yponomeutidae in some 

 respects, and have been included with them by some authors. Others 

 have associated the family with the Elachistidae, while Stainton in- 

 cluded it with the Gelechiidae as the genus Butalis. The antennae in 

 this family meet on the meson, but do not separate to show the distal 

 ends of the metathoracic legs as is the general rule in this superfamily. 

 Instead, the mesothoracic wings lie adjacent on the meson caudad of 

 the antennae, and the appendages are firmly soldered to each other and 

 to the body (Fig. 89). As the appendages extend caudad for about 

 half the length of the seventh abdominal segment, it follows that there 

 can be no motion possible between any of the abdominal segments, 

 unless there be slight dorsal motion. The prothorax is typically gele- 

 chiid in character. The abdominal spiracles are considerably pro- 

 duced and tubular, their length varying in the different species. The 

 setae of the body are nearly all hooked, and a few longer ones are pres- 



