BAGWORM MOTHS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 137 



Sapindaceae; Aesculus hipxjocastanum L.; Tiliaceae: Tilia sp. (linden) 

 Tilia europaea L., Tilia americana L., Tilia heterophylla Vent.; 

 Ulmaceae: Ulmus americana L., Ulmus campestris L., Ulmus fulva 

 Michx."(Tietz, 195?). "Pinaceae: Cedrus sp.; Arecaceae: Eoystonea 

 sp.; Aquifoliaceae: Ilex sp., Ilex crenata Thimb.; Anacardiaceae: 

 Ma7uiifera indica L., Schinus terehinthifolius Raddi; Annonaceae: 

 Annona glabra L.; Asteraceae: Anthemis cotula L.; Casuarinaceae: 

 Casuarina sp.; Fabaceae: Bauhinia sp.; Juglandaceae : Carya sp. 

 (pecan); Lauraceae: Persea sp. (avocado); Lythraceae: Lagerstroemia 

 sp. (crape myrtle); Malvaceae: Thespesia pojmlnea (L.) Soland.; 

 Myrtaceae: Callistemon sp., Melaleuca sp., Psidium guajava L.; Poly- 

 gonaceae: Coccoloba uvifera (L.) Jacq.; Rosaceae: Prunm amygdalus 

 Batsch, Pyracaiitha sp.; Rubiaceae: Ixora sp.; Rutaceae: Citrus sp. 

 (orange); Sapindaceae: Litchi chinensis Sonn.; Verbenaceae: Lantana 

 sp." (from specimen labels). 



Distribution. — (Map 5.) This species is very common over much 

 of its range, which is restricted primarily to the eastern half of the 

 United States. In addition, it is represented by unique specimens from 

 Haiti, the Bahamas, and Islapa, Mexico. In the United States T. 

 ephemeraejormis is known to occur in the Appalachian Highlands as 

 far north as New York, and south and west through the Atlantic and 

 Interior Plains to Texas and Nebraska. 



Discussion. — Because of the relative abundance, wide distribution, 

 and polyphagous habit of the voraciously feeding larva, Thyridopteryx 

 ephemeraejormis has become the most economically important psychid 

 in North America, where it is primarily a pest of woody ornamentals. 

 Through much common usage and extensive scientific application of 

 the name, the identity of this moth is firmly established. The 

 earliest references, however, cast some doubt on the original applica- 

 tion because it assigned this species to Great Britain. Apparently, 

 not until 1841 was the fact definitely established (by Doubleday) that 

 T. ephemeraejormis occurred in the New World. The precise origin 

 and identity of Haworth's original specimen probably will never be 

 known. Wood (1839) supposedly figured the type specimen, and his 

 illustration superficially resembles the presently recognized insect. 

 He stated that this specimen was "taken by the late Mr. Bolton in 

 Yorkshire" and provided it with the common name "beltless clear- 

 wing." Assuming that the present application of the name and the 

 origin of the type specimen are correct, conceivably the original moth 

 represented a temporary and accidental introduction into Great 

 Britain. More than likely, however, the type specimen of T. ephemer- 

 aejormis actually was collected in the United States but for some reason 



