392 LEPIDOPTERA 



Fam. 17. Himantopteridae (Thymaridae of some autho- 

 rities) jire placed by Hanipsoii in the su])-family Phaudiiiae of 

 Zygaenidae characterised by the alisence of the mouth-parts. 

 The Himantopteridae are small moths, and have the scales on 

 the wings very imperfect and hair -like ; the hind wings form 

 long slender tails, so that the Insects scarcely look like moths. 

 They are peculiar to India and Africa. In the South African 

 genus Dianeura (belonging really to l*haudinae) also the wings 

 are scaleless and nearly transparent. 



Fam. 18. Heterogynidae. — Consists of the single genus 

 Heterogynis whicli lias liitherto been found only in the south of 

 Europe. This is an important form connecting Zygaenidae and 

 Psychidae. The larvae resemble those of Zygaena, and construct 

 an oval cocoon for their metamorphosis. The male issues as a 

 small moth of smoky colour, the scales being luit imperfect ; 

 the female chrysalis shows no trace of any appendages, and the 

 imago is practically a maggot, and never leaves the cocoon ; in it 

 she deposits her eggs, and tlie young larvae hatch there.^ 



Fam. 19. Psychidae. — Small, or moderate-sized moths, with 

 imperfect scales, and little or no colour beyond certain shades of 

 duskiness ; the sexes very different, the female being wingless and 

 sometimes quite maggot-like ; the male often with remarkable, 

 bipectinate antennae, the branches sometimes very long and 

 flexible. Larva inhabiting a. case that it carries al)out. This 

 family consists of Insects unattractive in appearance but present- 

 ing some points of great interest. It is frequently stated that 

 tlie Psychidae are destitute of scales, but Heylaerts states " that, 

 in addition to hairs, scales of a more or less imperfect formation 

 are present in all, but that they are, like those of some Sphingidae 

 {Macroglossa), very easily detached. There is nuich difference in 

 the females, some having well-developed legs, while others are 

 not only apterous, but are bare and destitute of appendages 

 like a maggot, while in certain cases (Fig. 196, G), the head 

 is reduced in size and is of peculiar form so as to make the 

 Insect look really like the larva of one of the parasitic Diptera. 

 These females never leave their cases, but deposit their eggs 



^ For details as to habits, etc., see Rainlmr, Ann. Soc. cat. France, v. 1836, 

 I>. .^)77 ; and Graslin, op. cil. xix. 1850, p. 396. 



- Monograph of European Psychidae, Ann. Soc. cut. Bclgiquc, xxv. 1881, 

 p. 29, etc. 



