2 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 280 



without emphasis on the sum of these characters and without examina- 

 tion of the genitaUa. As a result most species have been misplaced, 

 often associated in Old World genera to which they have no close 

 aflBnities. 



The Anerastiinae and Phycitinae have long been considered closel}'' 

 related within the Pyralidae and were often collectively recognized as 

 the family Phycitidae. The two groups show close similarity in wing 

 venation, notably the loss of vein R5 in both groups. They also have 

 similar palpi and the frenulum reduced to a single bristle in the females. 



Separation of the Anerastiinae from the Phycitinae has been made 

 on the basis of a single reduction character, loss or extreme reduction 

 of the tongue, hence the supposed monophyletic nature of the group 

 has been highly questionable. The results of the present investigation 

 indicate that in North America eight genera properly belong with the 

 phycitines and seven genera, forming a natural group, are quite dis- 

 tinctly separate from the Phycitinae. The latter of these two groups 

 has been given subfamily status as the Peoriinae, a subfamily name 

 proposed by Hulst. 



The present study is preliminary; essentially all that is known of 

 the group is based on studies of the adults; the immature stages and 

 the biology of the living insects are almost wholly unknown. Food 

 plant records are available for only two species of peoriines, both grass 

 feeders. Peoria bipartitella is reported to feed on Panicum lanuginosura, 

 and Peoria tetradella on Elymus canadensis as a borer in the stem. The 

 life history oi Anerastia lotella, a Holarctic species, is well described in 

 the literature, notably by Buckler (1901). The species feeds on a 

 number of grasses including Ammophila arenaria, Festuca ovina, Secale 

 cereale, and Aira species. It is hoped that this paper will encourage 

 taxonomic and biological studies on the Peoriinae throughout their 

 worldwide range. 



Materials and Methods 



Specimens examined. — The U.S. National Museum and the 

 Canadian National collection have provided most of the specimens 

 used in this study. A complete listing of individuals and institutions 

 from which material was borrowed is given below along with the 

 abbreviations used in the text. 



ABK Collection of Alexander B. Klots, New York, N.Y. 



AMNH American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y. 



ANS Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa. 



BM Collection of Bryant Mather, Jackson, Miss. 



BMNH British Museum (Natural History), London, England 



BPI State Bureau of Plant Industry, Harrisburg, Pa. 



CM Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa. 



CNC Canadian National Collection, Ottawa, Ontario 



