MOTHS. 197 



Sub-Section VIII. — Tinece. 



Body slender ; wings rather long and narrow, witli long fringes, 

 not wrapped round the body in repose ; larvae variable. 



The Tinece are very numerous in Europe, and one-third of our 

 British moths belong to this section ; but they do not appear to be 

 proportionately abundant in foreign countries. These moths are 

 frequently of very small size, and few of our largest species equal 

 an inch in expanse, while the greater part are much smaller. 

 Some of the foreign species, however, measure an inch and a half 

 or two inches across the wings. They have been divided into 

 several families, most of which appear to be natural. We will 

 proceed to mention some of the more important ones. 



The Atycldidoi are a small family peculiar to Southern and 

 Eastern Europe. They have some resemblance to Zygcenidce, with 

 which they were formerly classed. Atychia Fumila, Ochs., is dark 

 brown, with some white marks on the hind wings. 



The Tineidce include the Clothes Moths, several kinds of which 

 are abundant everywhere; and their caterpillars cause consider- 

 able damage by feeding upon animal fabrics of various kinds. 

 One of the commonest and most conspicuous species is Tinea 

 TapdzdJa, Linn., which is black to tlie middle of the fore wings, 

 and white mixed with brown beyond. 



Euplocartms Anthracinalis, Scop., is a large and conspicuous 

 black species with white spots, which is common in Central and 

 Southern Europe, but is not British. 



The Adelidce are remarkable for their beautiful colours, and 

 the great length of their antennse ; they are generally met with in 

 woods in spring, flying by day. Nemotois Latreillellus, Fabr., has 

 golden violet wings, with two small yellow spots ; it inhabits 

 Southern Europe. 



The genus Hyponomeuta, Zell., typical of the family Hyponomeu- 

 tldce, includes the Small Ermine Moths. They are much alike, 

 having white or grey fore wings, rather less than an inch in expanse, 

 and rows of small black spots. Their larvae live gregariously 

 under a web on hawthorn, sloe, apple, spindle, etc., and are some- 

 times very destructive. 



The Plutellidce are a small family with rather long wings, 

 which are frequently pointed or slightly hooked at the tip. The 

 largest species is Theristls AhtcroneUa, Scop., a yellowish-grey insect 

 which measures more than ;in inch across the wiiiirs. 



