LIFE-HISTORIES OF INDIAN INSECTS. 
-MICROLEPIDOPTERA. 
VIII. TINEIDA AND NEPTICULIDA. 
BY 
T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.L.S., F.E.S., F.ZS., 
Imperial Entomologist. 
[Received for publication on 27th June 1919.] 
TINEIDA. 
MELASINA ENERGA, MEYR. 
Melasina energa, Meyr., B. J., XVI, 616-617 (1905)(!) ; Fryer, T. E. S., 1913> 
420-422, t. 21, ff. 1-4(). 
Described from Ceylon—Peradeniya(! *), Tangalla(!) and Yatiyantota('), 
We have it from Peradeniya. 
The larva has been described by Fryer as follows :—“ The head is ovate 
in shape and is so attached to the first thoraci¢ segment that the anterior 
‘surface is directed upwards, bringing the mouth forward ; in colour it is dark 
brown with the surface finely shagreened. The first thoracic segment is 
elongated and in front is slightly broader than the head but behind is markedly 
constricted ; its surface is chitinous, brown in colour and finely shagreened, 
this latter feature being less evident than in the case of the head. The re- 
mainder of the body is cylindrical, tapering slightly posteriorly ; in colour 
it is greenish-grey, lighter ventrally ; hairs are present but they are sparsely 
scattered and are very minute. The legs are brown in colour, rather long, 
and directed forward. The prolegs are very short and are armed with a 
series of broad hooks, the suckers being hardly functional. The spiracles 
are brown, those on the penultimate segment being large and conspicuous. 
Length 23 mm.”(?). The larve live in earthy tubes, projecting above the 
surface of the ground like worm-tubes. These tubes, when the larva is full- 
grown, measure 100 to 150 mm. in length, two-thirds of the tube descending 
