( 122 ) 



V .— T HE PYRALIDINA 



Not dealt with in this volume. 



VI.— THE PSYCH IN A. 



The Psijchina are distinguished by the following characters : — 



"Eyes glabrous. Maxillary palpi rudimentary or obsolete (yet sometimes well marked in 

 pupa). Posterior tibiae, with spurs very short, middle spurs often absent. Fore-wings with vein 

 lb furcate, lc usually developed, 5 more or less approximated to 4. Hind-wings with frenulum, 

 retinaculum often very broad, lc present, 8 connected or anastomosing with cell." (See Plate I., 

 figs. 30, 31 neuration of CEceticus omnivorus.) 



" This ancient group, which furnishes the origin of the five preceding, is not 

 now very prominent, though much more numerous in warm regions. 



"Imago with fore-wings more or less elongate-triangular, hind-wings ovate, often 

 rather small. 



" Larva with 10 prolegs, usually with few hairs. 



"Pupa with segments 8-11 free, usually 7 also (except in Psychidce), in male 12 

 also ; protruded from cocoon in emergence." — (Meyrick.) 



The Psychina and Micropterygina are included amongst the Micros by most 

 modern authors. I have, however, described and figured certain conspicuous and 

 interesting species belonging to both these groups. The insects in question have, 

 until so very recently, been regarded as Macros, that I think it would be a mistake 

 to omit them in the present volume. There can, however, be no question that the 

 modern view is the correct one, and that notwithstanding the large size of some of the 

 species, they are really closely allied to those Micro-Lepidoptera, with which they are 

 now associated. 



Of the Psychina we have one family represented in New Zealand — the Psychidce. 



Family 1.— PSYCHIDCE. 



" Head densely rough-haired. Ocelli large. Tongue obsolete. Antennas half the length of 

 the fore-wings or less, in male strongly bi-pectinated to apex. Labial palpi very short, hairy. 

 Thorax densely hairy above and beneath. Abdomen, femora, and tibiae densely hairy, posterior 

 tibiae without middle spurs, end spurs extremely short. Fore-wings with vein lr* anastomosing 

 with lb before middle ; lc (if present) coincident with 16 beyond middle, 7 absent. Hind- 

 wings, with vein 8, connected by bar with upper margin of cell. Female apterous, without legs or 

 developed antennae. 



