34 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. so 



they feed eitlier on refuse or bits of dried vegetable matter. One 

 {Martyrhilda sphaeralceae, new species) is a leaf miner. 



Among the flower feeders the most important is Depressaria herac- 

 liana (Linnaeus) (the parsnip webworm), which does considerable 

 damage to commercially grown parsnips by destroying the flower- 

 heads and immature seeds. A closely related species, D. cinereo- 

 costella Clemens, has been recorded from caraway but is most 

 frequently found on closely related indigenous plants such as Sium 

 lineare Michx. 



Among the forest insects we find Agonopterix argillacea (Walsing- 

 ham), which has been reared in quantity from willow {Salix spp.). 

 The species of the genus Psilocorsis attack beech {Fagus grandifolia 

 Ehrh.), oak [Quercus spp.), and pecan {Carya pecan Aschers. & 

 Graebn.) and hickory {Carya ovata (Mill.) Koch). P. caryae^ new 

 species, is of considerable importance in the South, where it is de- 

 structive to pecan. In the immediate vicinity of Washington, D. C, 

 the larvae of P. fagineUa (Chambers) do a great deal of damage 

 to beech. 



In addition we have the European Carcina quercana Fabricius, 

 which is an oak feeder and has been introduced on Vancouver 

 Island, British Columbia, and Machimia tentoriferella Clemens, 

 which feeds on Castanea^ Juglans^ Quercus^ and Prunus. 



The scavenger bulb moth, Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stain- 

 ton), is recorded from stored bulbs and tubers of tulip, dahlia, and 

 gladiolus and from dried fruits and other stored products (see hosts 

 under species) and is a common pest in houses. It is found through- 

 out Europe and America and in New Zealand. 



Endrosis lactella (Schiffermiiller) does considerable damage on the 

 Pacific coast and in Europe, feeding on stored cereals, fruits, and 

 other products. 



The pupae are formed in debris, in leaves, or in hollow stalks and 

 do not protrude at the time of emergence of the moth. Many species 

 hibernate as adults. 



Several species are of considerable economic importance. Notable 

 among these are Endrosis lactella (Schiffermiiller), Hofmannophila 

 pseudospretella (Stainton), and Depressaria heracliana (Linnaeus). 



The distribution of the North American Oecophoridae appears to 

 center about the Southwestern States, particularly Arizona, Colorado, 

 and California. The genus Agonopterix^ the largest in the family, is 

 particularly well represented in western North America. 



Since Busck^ published his paper on the North American moths 

 of this family no attempt has been made to revise the group. He 



* Busck, A., A generic revision of American moths of the family Oecophoridae, with 

 descriptions of new species. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 35, pp. 187-207, 1908. 



