Notes on North American Species of Nepticiila. 97 



the middle. The formation of the blotch occupies approxi- 

 mately the last two days of the larval period within the mine. 

 The cocoon is ocherous, somewhat flattened and broader at 

 its anterior end. ^ 



This species is most nearly related to .V. diffascicc Braun 

 from California. 



Types in my collection. 



Nepticula saccharella, n. sp. 



Palpi whitish. Tnft brownish ocherous. Antennae brown- 

 ish ocherous broadly ringed with black ; eye-caps silvery white, 

 with a bluish luster. Thorax with a bright blue metallic luster. 



Basal fourth of the fore wing shining with a bright blue 

 metallic luster. Ground color of the remainder of the wing 

 black, faintly shining. There is a rather broad shining silvery 

 fascia just beyond the middle of the wing, broadening and 

 curving toward the base as it approaches the dorsum. When 

 viewed at some angles, this fascia shows pale blue reflections. 

 Cilia pale bluish shining, and with a line of dark scales through 

 their middle. Hind wings and cilia gray, with a bluish luster. 



Legs pale, streaked with dark above. Abdomen dark brown 

 above with a faint bluish luster, much paler beneath and 

 bluish. 



Expanse : 4 mm. 



Seven specimens, six of them bred from very long ser- 

 pentine mines on the upper side of sugar maple, Acer sac- 

 charum ^larsh. The Qgg is deposited on the under surface 

 of the leaf, but the larva crosses to the upper side immediately 

 on hatching, so that the mine is strictly an upper side mine. 

 The loosened epidermis is greenish, and a dark line of frass 

 extends through the middle of the mine. The mine is 1:>-1-I 

 cm. in length. This is without doubt the mine noticed by 



17 



