NEARCTIC GELECHIIDAE — HODGES 3 



la (Saunders)], the Angoumois grain moth [Sitotroga cerealella 

 (Olivier)], the potato tuberworm [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)], 

 and the lodgepole needle miner [Coleotechnites milleri (Busck)], are 

 economically important. Crasimorpha injuscata Hodges is being 

 studied for potential use as a biological control agent of a weed in 

 Hawaii. The food plants and life histories of most species are un- 

 known, and their study offers a challenge to anyone interested in 

 rearing insects. 



To insure relatively uniform handling and observation of specimens 

 for study purposes, I have included the following comments: (1) 

 Adult moths should be mounted and spread, and care should be taken 

 so that the maculation is preserved and all parts are present. (2) 

 Genitalic preparations should be made from the best specimens avail- 

 able so that later maculational comparisons can easily be made. 

 (3) Age of the specimen must be considered when colors are observed. 

 Several colors change over a period of time; thus, specimens that 

 appear dark black or brown when relatively fresh become rather 

 uniform yellow brown upon aging. Many gelechiids have a light 

 dusting of blue green when they are alive; this color usually disappears 

 within a few days after death. (4) The source of light available when 

 the specimens are observed and the angle of light incidence on the 

 scale surfaces will affect the appearance of colors. In this study the 

 colors were seen under incandescent illumination (GE transparent 

 bulb in an AO illuminator), (5) Maculation of most species is 

 variable to some degree, and comparisons with illustrations and 

 descriptions must be made with this fact in mind. (6) Both the 

 male and the female genitalia can vary; so, several genitalic prepara- 

 tions may be necessary to learn the range of variation. (7) In many 

 genera (e.g., Recurvaria Haworth, Coleotechnites Chambers, Lita 

 Treitschke) the tegumen and vinculum should be opened so that they 

 are approximately in the same plane rather than being in parallel 

 planes. In most illustrations a ventral view of the male genitalia is 

 shown to present characters of the juxta, gnathos, and uncus; however, 

 a ventrolateral or lateral view of some species is also necessary to show 

 the shape of the valvae. (8) Species of some genera, particularly 

 Dichomeris Hiibner, have the female frenulum fused so that the 

 position of the retinaculum (medial rather than subcostal) or presence 

 of the ovipositor must be observed to verify the sex. (9) Terminology 

 of male genitaHc structures, particularly of the valva, juxta, and 

 vinculum, is apt to be somewhat misapplied because of fused parts. 

 In some instances the valvae and vinculum appear to flow into one 

 another rather than being separate. Reference to the illustrations 

 should clarify any questions concerning the name used for a particular 

 part. 



