4IO 



MICRO-LEPIDOP TERA. 



The smaller Lepidoptera, including the moths belonging to the five groups Py rales, Tortrices, 

 Tincce, Ptctvphori, and A/ucitce, are almost as numerous as the larger species, which have 

 already been discussed in this work. Although fully as beautiful, and in many respects at 

 least as interesting as the Llacro-Lepidoptera, yet their small size and the consequent difficulty 

 of collecting and preparing them cause them to be regarded with much less interest, even by 

 collectors, than the larger species. It therefore becomes impracticable to describe the species 

 in detail in a popular work like the present ; but not wishing to omit the Micro-Lcpidoptera 

 altogether, we have figured a number of the more interesting species belonging to various 

 families on our two concluding Plates. A considerable amount of information respecting the 

 Micro-Lcpidoptera has already been given in our Introduction ; and we will now proceed to 

 give some further account of the various groups which fall under this general term. 



PYRALES. 



The insects included in this division may generally be recognised by their long slender bodies 

 and legs, and frequently by their long narrow fore-wings. The hind-wings are always ample. 

 The antennae are not pectinated, though those of the males are frequently provided with a 

 tuft of hair at the base or elsewhere ; and the palpi are sometimes very long, projecting from 

 the head in the form of a beak, as in the genus Libytliea, among the butterflies. Their larvae 

 have always sixteen legs. The Pyralts are divided into the following six families — viz., 

 Pyralidce, Botydee, Ckilonidce, Crainbidce, Pkycidce, and GalleridcE. 



The Pyralidie and Botyda average about i inch in expanse, though some of the smallest 

 species do not measure more than half an inch across the wings, while the largest expand 

 nearly i\ inches. But their broad wings, and their habit of resting on leaves or trunks of trees 

 either with all the wings expanded, or with the fore-wings lying flat over the hind-wings, 

 sometimes make them appear larger than they really are. They generally fly at dusk, though 

 some species fly by day, and most of the others may readily be disturbed from their hiding- 

 places during the day-timCi 



We have figured two representatives of the Pyralidce, which are very common, even in 

 houses and stables. One is * Pyralis Farinalis, Linn. (PI. 6i, Fig. 15), a very prettily-marked 

 and widely-distributed insect, which is found throughout the Pal^earctic Region, as well as in 

 North America. It is known as the Meal-Moth, for its whitish larva feeds on flour, corn, and 

 straw. The moth is double-brooded, and is found throughout the summer. Another equally 

 common insect is the Tabby Moth {*Aglossa Piiiguiiialis, Linn.), figured on PI. 61, Fig. 14. 

 It is a dull-coloured insect, and the male is much smaller than the female. The larva is 

 brown, smooth, and shining, and feeds on butter, grease, or rotten wood. 



The BotydcE diff"er very much in size and appearance, and many of the smaller species, 

 belonging to the genera Pyraitsla, Eniiychia, Threnodes, Hercyna, &c., fly by day. Several 

 species of Pyrausta and Eiuiychia are common in dry hilly districts in many parts of England ; 



