284 



the genitalia in some species of Adaina and in Oidacmatophonis mono- 

 dactyliis Linn. 



Before taking up the systematic treatment of these families a 

 word regarding their relationship may not be amiss. By early writers 

 both Pteroplioridae and Alncitidae (better known as Orncodidac) 

 were placed at the end of the order, a procedure from which Meyrick 

 first departed by proposing the position which they have since occu- 

 pied. Speaking of the Pteroplioridae (Gen. Ins. c, 1.) he says: "The 

 family is an aberrant group of the Pyralidina, with some relation to 

 the Oxychirotidac, Orncodidac and Pyraustidac, but no close or obvi- 

 ous connection with any of these, the indications of affinity being 

 merely general." Some writers regard the Pteroplioridae, Alncitidae, 

 and presumably the Oxychirotidac as an independent superfamily. We 

 prefer to treat them as members of the Pyraloidca. We consider 

 the two families together because the presence of only one Alucitid in 

 our fauna renders that family too small for separate treatment, and 

 this is its closest relationship. 



