196 LEPIDOPTERA 



Fam. 21. Arbelidae. — Closely allied to Cossidae, but with- 

 out frenulum, ami witli less complex wing-iiervures. A small 

 family believed to be similar to Cossidae in the life-history. 

 The tropical African Arbelidae are considered by Karsch to be 

 a distinct family, Hollandiidae. 



Fam. 22. Chrysopolomidae. — This family has been estab- 

 lished liy Dr. Aurivillius ^ for an African y,enus, allied in wing- 

 nervuration to Cossidae ; the Insects are like Lasiocampidae. 



Fam. 23. Hepialidae {Ghost- and Sioift-Motlis). — Moths of 

 very diverse size, some gigantic ; wings not fitting together well 

 at the bases ; without a frenulum ; no prol )0scis ; the scales 

 imperfect ; the nervures complex. The Hepialidae are extremely 

 isolated amongst the Lepidoptera ; indeed, they have really no 

 allies ; the conclusion that they are connected with the Micro- 

 pterygidae being certainly erroneous. Although l)ut small in 

 numbers — only about 150 species Ijeing known — they exhibit a 

 remarkable variety in size and colour. Many are small oljscure 

 moths, while others are of gigantic size — six or seven inches 

 across the wings — and are amongst the most remarkably coloured 

 of existing Insects. The great Charagia of Australia, with 

 colours of green and rose, bearing white spots, are remarkable. 

 The South African Lcto voius is of large size, and has an 

 astonishing supply of glittering metallic splashes on the wings, 

 making a barltaric but effective display. The South Australian 

 Zelotypia starryi, of enormous size, is also a handsome moth : 

 but the majority of species of the family are adorned only in 

 the feeblest manner. 



Very little is known as to the larvae ; they are either sub- 

 terranean, feeding on roots, or tliey live in the wood of trees and 

 shrubs. Tliey are nearly bare, and are apparently the lowest type 

 (if Bomliycid larva. At the same time, it would appear there is 

 considerable variety amongst them. Packard says"^ the young- 

 larva, of Hepiahi^ musteliims has the arrangement of setae that is 

 normal in Tineidae. The larva of H. hvmvli seems to be a very 

 simple form, but H. Iiectus shows a considerable amount of 

 divergence from it. They probably live for several years ; the 

 larva of H. argenteo-maculatus in North America lives for three 

 years, at first eating the roots of Alder and then entering the 



^ Eat. Tidskr. xvi. 1895, p. 116. 



- On larvae of }Ii'i)iali(lae, J. ^'cw York cnf. Soc. iii. 1S95. p. 69, Plates III. IV. 



