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XVIII. On the aberrant Species hitherto placed in the 

 Genus Elachista. By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



[Read December 7th, 1857.] 



In my volume of the " Insecta Britannica" I placed in the genus 

 Elachista three species, which at that time appeared somewhat out 

 of place there, and further investigation has shown that these 

 species, Pfeifferella, Treitschkiella and Brunnicliella, must be re- 

 moved. The habit and structure of the larvae confirm the pro- 

 priety of this step. 



The species Pfeifferella and Treitschkiella are distinguished in 

 the larva state by their total absence of legs, and by their peculiar 

 form of mine ; Herrich- SchafFer has constructed for these species 

 the genus Antispila, which I propose to retain. 



Brunnichella has an ordinary 16-legged larva, but it mines 

 blotches in the leaves of a labiate plant, and constructs a cocoon, 

 therein differing from the remaining Elachistce, which mine the 

 leaves of the Graminece and Cyperacece, and do not construct 

 cocoons. Of Brunnichella I propose to form a new genus, and as 

 the insect was once named Stephensella, in honour of the late J. F. 

 Stephens, Esq., I propose for the new genus the name Stephensia. 



Antispila, Herrich-SchafFer, Frey. 



This genus is readily distinguished from Elachista by the shorter 

 drooping palpi, by the shorter antennae, by the greater breadth of 

 the posterior wings, and in the neuration of the latter by the far 

 broader costal cell. A due consideration of these differences will 

 show that the true position of Antispila is in the family Glyphip- 

 terygidce, between Perittia and Tinagma. 



Having arrived at this conclusion solely from a consideration of 

 the structure of the perfect insect, we find a wonderful corrobora- 

 tion in the larva. The larvae of Pfeifferella and Treitschkiella, 

 both perfectly apodal, mine in blotches the leaves of the dogwood, 

 and cut out flat oval cases. 



The larvae of Tinagma resplendellum (the only one of that genus 

 yet known) is likewise apodal, and mines the leaves of alder, 

 cutting out a flat oval case ; the peculiarity of this latter larva 



