182 LIFE-HISTORIES OF TINEIDA 
vertically into the ground, whilst the remaining one-third lies horizontally 
on the surface or winds its way into a mass of dead leaves. The tube is cylin- 
drical in shape and measures from 6 to 8 mm. in diameter throughout its 
median portion ; towards the free-end it is funnel-shaped, widening out until 
at its termination it may measure 12 mm. in diameter. The subterranean 
end of the tube, when the larva is young, appears to open freely into the earth ; 
in the case of full-grown larve it widens considerably, thus forming a pupal 
cell. In composition the tube is built of a strong, closely woven silk, to the 
outside of which grains of earth, pieces of dead leaf and broken twigs are 
attached, the earth covering the subterranean portion, while the dead leaves 
and twigs encrust that above ground. The pupal cellis formed by the terminal 
20 mm. at the bottom of the tube and differs from the remainder in its greater 
width and in the increased thickness of its silken walls. Inside the pupal 
cell lies a thin cocoon which is cylindrical in shape and flat at each end ; it is 
peculiar in that it is composed of fine silk matted together by some dark- 
coloured secretion. This cocoon fits fairly closely into the pupal cell, but 
for the greater portion of its length is only loosely attached to it by a few 
strands of silk ; at the extreme lower end, however, it is firmly woven to the 
lower lips of the cell so that the flat end of the cocoon entirely blocks the 
subterranean entrance. This arrangement seems peculiar for, while the walls 
of the pupal cell are very thick, the end is guarded solely by the thin flat 
silken disc which forms the bottom of the cocoon. The similar disc, which 
_ forms the upper end of the cocoon, is easily detached and on the emergence 
of the moth is pushed up like the lid of a box. In the few cases examined 
the empty pupa skin was found in the cocoon. 
The food of the larva consists of dead leaves and often decaying vegetable. 
matter, feeding being accomplished only at night. (Fryer) 
MELASINA GRANULARIS, MEYR. 
Melasina granularis, Meyr., Exot. Micr., I, 609 (1916)(!). 
Bred at Peradeniya in March. “‘ Larva in a long nearly cylindrical 
case of silk covered with refuse (length 12mm., breadth 2mm.), mostly whitish 
sometimes banded with grey, feeding on lichens beneath ledges of rocks and 
on trunks of trees (Green) ’’(!). 
MELASINA CAMPESTRIS, MEYR. ? (PLATE LITI.) 
Melasina campestris, Meyr., Exot. Micr., I, 611 (1916)(1). 
This species is abundant at Pusa about June and has been bred from 
larve found living in silken tubes lying on the surface of the soil but it is not 
