150 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 244 



from one-third to one and a quarter inches in length, laid side by side longitudi- 

 nally, one or two pieces nearly always extending posteriorly some distance beyond 

 the termination of the case. The fragments with which the case is covered, 

 are of different lengths, and are about fifteen in number, the interstices being 

 filled with wood dust (most probably produced by the jaws of the insect itself), 

 closely woven into the silken groundwork of the case. The edges of the pieces 

 of wood are always neatly rounded by the insect and all outstanding branches 

 are bitten off. Chrysalis, with the abdominal portions, light chestnut brown, 

 with the wing cases almost black. It is nearly tubular in form, smooth, with 

 some small hooks on the abdominal segments. Length, 0.65 inch. 



Discovered by Prof. Geo. Davidson on Mt. Diablo, on the branches of Castaneop- 

 sis chrysophylla, Doubl (chinquapin chestnut). 



DiscussioN.^ — Since the case construction of this insect shows 

 little affinity to that of any other known species of Oiketicus, 0. david- 

 soni probably is misplaced in the genus to which Edwards originally 

 ascribed it. The larval case is very similar to that constructed by 

 some of the Old World species of Clania. Considering the fact that 

 past efforts to rediscover this species in its original locale have proven 

 futile, it is possible that 0. davidsoni represents an Old World species 

 which at one tune was introduced accidentally into California and 

 that now the American population is extinct. 



Beutenmijdler (1897) presented a rather crude and obscure descrip- 

 tion of a partially developed male moth, which he based on a specimen 

 dissected from a pupa of one of the types in the Edwards collection. 

 Unfortunately, any further examination of the legs or genitalia that 

 might shed some light on the generic placement of this species is 

 prevented since the present location of the specimen is not known. 



Material examined. — 1 case: 



California: Mt. Diablo, case, BM. 



6. "Chalia'" dispar Koehler 



Figure 127 

 Chalia dispar Koehler, Physis, vol. 17, p. 460, fig. 1, 1939. 



The following is quoted from the original description: 



Cestos masculinos j6venes y femeninos adultos cubiertos con finisimas particulas 

 vegetales y de consistencia blanda. 3 mm de ancho por 12-14 de largo. 



Cestos masculinos viejos cubiertos con palitos longitudinales en forma muy 

 tfpica: tienen diferentes largos, pero bastante iguales espesores y estan fijados 

 antes de la metamorfosis de la larva en crisdlida ; el cesto mismo cuelga de la 

 corteza de drboles, etc., por medio de un hilito fuerte de seda y se mueve con 

 facilidad con el menor viento. 



3,5 a 5 mm de ancho por 25 a 40 mm de largo. 



Habitat: Palos Blancos, Sierra Maiz Gordo, Salta (Kohler). 



Cotipos: Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Laboratorio de Zoologfa 

 agricola, colecciones Lizer y Trelles, Breyer y Kohler. 



