no. 3620 MICROLEPIDOPTERA, XV — DUCKWORTH 3 



with dense scales; liindleg greatly elongated, tibia very long, densely 

 scaled dorsally and ventrally, tarsus longer than tibia, thickened with 

 dense scales dorsally, tufted toward apex. Forewing with costa 

 arched at base, straight beyond, apex square, termen straight, tornus 

 rounded; with 12 veins, 2-5 approximate at base, 6-9 approximate at 

 base, 7 to termen, 11 from middle of cell. Hindwing broader than 

 forewing; with 8 veins, 3 and 4 connate, 5 approximate to 3 and 4, 6 

 and 7 approximate at base. 



Male genitalia: Uncus long, somewhat recurved; gnathos complete, 

 apex acute, hooklike; subscaphium absent; harpe with variously 

 shaped ampulla clothed with short, heavy spines, furcate setae present; 

 anellus large, sheathlike, with two digitate, setiferous lateral lobes; 

 aedeagus simple, cornuti absent. 



Female genitalia: Ostium bursae sclerotized; ductus bursae mem- 

 branous; inception of ductus seminalis near ostium; corpus bursae 

 membranous, with signum a small, lightly sclerotized spot. 



This genus is recognized easily owing to the large size of the moths 

 that compose it and the extreme development of their hindlegs. 

 Meyrick (1909, p. 30) first noted the unusual hindleg length in his 

 remarks on T. directrix: "A singular insect; the actual length of 

 posterior leg is, femur 3 mm., tibia 14 mm., tarsus 24 mm.; total 41 

 mm." Inasmuch as biological data is lacking completely for this 

 genus, it is impossible to determine the function or value of such long 

 and seemingly awkward legs at this time. It is hoped that this 

 publication and others, either published or to be published, on the 

 genera composing the family Stenomidae will stimulate workers in 

 Latin America to conduct biological studies that will help elucidate 

 such problems. 



The possibility that the legs of the moths in this genus might 

 provide characters useful at the specific level was investigated during 

 the course of this study. The results achieved were not conclusive 

 owing primarily to the lack of sufficient numbers of specimens with 

 intact legs. The great length of the hindlegs, three times the length 

 of the abdomen in some species, results in frequent breakage or com- 

 plete loss by handling, shipping, etc. As a result, the data gathered are 

 considered to be too incomplete for presentation at this time. 



The genitalia provide a number of distinguishing characters for the 

 genus. The most outstanding male character is the development of a 

 prominent ampulla bearing short, heavy setae. The size and shape of 

 this ampulla varies among the species and provides reliable characters 

 for then- recognition. Because the female of only one species, T. 

 geranomorpha, is known, it is impossible to determine the characters of 

 generic significance in the female genitalia. 



