4 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 89 



of the primary center of distribution. Principal among these are the 

 Hawaiian Islands with 37 species but only a single genus. This situa- 

 tion is probably the result of a relatively rapid proliferation of one 

 or a few early introductions which underwent an evolutionary radia- 

 tion similar to that which occurred in the immensely successful 

 Hawaiian cosmopterygid genus Hyposmocoma. The Carposinidae evi- 

 dently experienced a comparable development in New Zealand. Al- 

 though only one genus is known to occur there, it is well represented 

 by 15 species as reported by Philpott (1928). Currently these species 

 are listed under Carposina; however, as suggested by certain pecu- 

 liarities in the male genitalia, all very likely will require a new generic 

 placement eventually. 



The remaining regions of the world exhibit a rather depauperate 

 fauna with regard to this family. Meyrick (1922) reported oidy 8 

 species from the Palearctic region (4 are known from Japan alone) and 

 9 from the Ethiopian region. In this paper I have recognized a total 

 of 4 genera and 18 species for the New World, as well as 4 unnamed 

 species. Undoubtedly several Neotropical species remain to be dis- 

 covered, although recent collecting has not indicated this fauna to 

 be of any great size or complexity. Members of two monotypic genera, 

 Tesuquea and Atoposea, are restricted to the Western Hemisphere, 

 whereas the genera Carposina and Bondia are also represented in the 

 Old World. The genus Carposina is perhaps the most widespread of 

 all the known genera, although, as pointed out above, this name 

 probably has been misapplied in some areas to unrelated species 

 groups. The most widely distributed species is probably C. niponensis 

 which occurs commonly over much of China and Japan. As discussed 

 in the present paper (see p. 18), this insect is believed to be represented 

 in North America by the subspecies ottawana. 



Life history. — Except for accounts treating a few economic 

 species, very little is known concerning the life history of these insects. 

 The larvae of several species (of the genus Carposina in particular) are 

 known to bore into fruits, and one is a major pest of apple and peach 

 in Japan. Meyrick (1922) points out that in addition to feeding in 

 fruits, some larvae are known to bore into plant shoots, stem galls, 

 and bark, as well as to mine leaves. The plant families Campanu- 

 laceae, Epacridaceae, Ericaceae, Myrtaceae, and Rosaceae are listed 

 by him as hosts. 



Due to its economic importance as a major pest of pome fruits in . 

 the Far East, more attention has been directed toward understanding 

 the biology of Carposina niponensis than to any other member of the 

 family. Early reports (e.g., Riley et al., 1889) outlined the life history 

 of this moth several years before the species had actually been identi- 



