^^ AND "^^^ 



JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 



Vol. VIII. No. 2. May 15th, 1896. 



The Relationship of the lower Lepldoptera with Trichoptera. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



McLachlan, in 1865, and Speyer, in 1870, pointed out certain 

 broad affinities between the Trichoptera and some families of the 

 Lepidoptera. Packard, in 1863, suggested somewhat similar affini- 

 ties, but no one thought of rejecting co-ordinal relationship between 

 the two Orders. The general affinities then discussed have since been 

 considerably amplified ; but not imtil the meeting of the Entom. Soc. 

 of London, March 4th, 1896, when Dr. Sharp made his remarkable 

 statement, has any authoritative entomologist attempted to unite 

 Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. That there is much to be said on both 

 sides one must admit, but our views are against the union of the two 

 Orders. 



Commenting on the pupa of a species of Mirroptcvyx (probably 

 semijiurpitrt'Ua), which had been sent to him by Dr. Chapman, Dr. 

 Sharp stated that he " considered the pupa to be that of a Trichop- 

 terous insect ; most of its structures were those of Trichoptera, and 

 the account given by Dr. Chapman of its emergence showed that 

 this was essentially the same as that of Trichoptera. He remarked 

 that the imago of this division of Mirnijitoi/x had been already shown 

 to approach Trichoptera in several respects, and suggested that it 

 should be treated as a group of Trichoptera Avhose larvae are not 

 aquatic in habits. '••'' If this course were not adopted he felt clear that 

 Trichoptera could not be maintained distinct as an Order from Lepi- 

 doptera. He remarked on the peculiar projection from the head of the 

 pupa of Microj>te)i/.r, and suggested that it might be comparable with 

 the head- vesicle of the nymph, or primary pupa, of Lepidoptera. He 

 also called attention to the importance, for a classification of Lepi- 

 doptera, of obtaining a full knowledge of the structure and life-history 

 of Eriocepliala caltJuila.'' 



This is positive enough, for an opinion, and it suggests to us that 

 the consideration of some of our most generalised Lepidoptera, and 

 the views held by various authorities with regard to them, might prove 

 of interest. 



Now that the generalised structure of certain moths has become 

 recognised, there appears to be a tendency to assume that such moths 



For the description of a Trichopterous non-aquatic insect, vide E. McLachlan 

 on " Cases of Enokyla piisilla," E. M. M., vol. v., p. 43. — Ed. 



