26 THE entomologist's record. 



are closely related to each other. This assumption is, in a measure, 

 true, yet it is likely to be misleading, if we group these generalised 

 forms into a single super-family, rather than into separate super- 

 families, each with the more specialised families, which have origi- 

 nated from or near to it, in connection with tlie stem form. 



The most generalised of all our Lepidoptera is the Super-family 

 Eriocephalides. This comprises the British species Krioccplicda 

 raltJiclla, xcppella, aruncdla, aureatella, thunht'i(/ella and vtansurtiilu. 

 Walter discovered that J\. ralthclla had maxillae constructed on the 

 type of those of biting or mandibulate insects. Chapman has further 

 discovered that the larvie have remarkable prolegs and antennie. 

 The complete life-history of a member of this genus is one of the 

 greatest desiderata of entomological science. Owing to the great 

 difference betAveen these and all other Lepidoptera, Packard divides the 

 Order into two great divisions or Sub-orders. These he calls — 

 I. Sub-order : Lepidoptera-laciniata. II. Sub-order : Lepidoptera- 

 HAUSTELLATA. The Lepidoptera-laciniata includcs only the Erioce- 

 phalides. Formerly the species in the single genus Krioccpliala, 

 at present comprising the Sub-order, Lepidoptera-laciniata, were 

 included in the genus Micnqitcnjx. Meyrick still classifies them with 

 the Mivrojitci-i/i/iilaf, making the latter family consist of the two genera, 

 Mierapterj/.r and Kiineepluda. This in no wise represents the facts, 

 and Packard's method of setting them oft' as a Sub-order equivalent 

 to all other Lepidoptera is preferable. Not only do the Eriocephalides 

 difier from all other Lepidoptera in the structure of the imaginal 

 mouth-parts (maxillary lobes, mandibles, etc.), but also in the more 

 generalised condition of the thorax and abdomen of the imago. The 

 larva is quite unlike that of any other lepidopterous insect, and as far 

 removed as can be imagined from the apodal larvae of the true 

 Micropterygides. It has large 4 -jointed antenna? and 8 pairs of 

 remarkable prolegs. The neuration of the imago is also highly 

 generalised, and the wings are united with a jugum. In the two 

 latter characters the Eriocephalides resemble Trichoptera. 



The general appearance of the imagines of the Eriocephalides 

 is not unlike that of the Micropterygides, the next Super-family to 

 be considered, as presenting more generalised characters than any 

 other Super-family except the Eriocephalides, just considered. So 

 dift'erent, however, are these structurally from each other, that the 

 jNIicropterygides are placed in the Sub-order, Lepidoptera-haustellata 

 by Packard. They are, however, very different from any other of the 

 numerous Super-families in this Sub-order, and hence Packard gives 

 them a separate division to themselves. He sub-divides as follows : — 



' \. Pal.eolepidoptera (Pup^e 

 liberae). 

 2. Neolepidoptera (Pupre- 

 incompleta? and Pupas- 

 obtectte). 



The division which the Micropterygides occupy alone is called 

 PALiEO-LEPiDOPTERA. It is characterised by — (1) The generalised 

 form of venation. (2) The union of the fore- and hind-wings by a 

 jugum. (B) The remarkable pupa in which the antenna, mouth-parts 

 and limbs are free. (4) The enormous pupal mandibles, described 

 by Chapman as being adapted for cutting through the dense cocoon, 



Sub-order : Lepidoptera-haustellata^ 



