52 Mr. R. M‘Lachlan’s Monograph of the 
23, Limnephilus sparsus, Curtis. (Pl. X. figs. 17, 18, app.) 
Limneplhilus sparsus, Curt. (*) Phil. Mag. p. 123, 23 (1834); 
Steph. (*) Ill. p. 223, 81; Limnophilus sparsus, Hag. (*) 
Ent. Ann. 1859, p. 88, 26; Limnephilus tenebricus, Curt. (*) 
Phil. Mag. p. 123, 23 b (1834); Steph. (*) Ill. p. 222, 29; 
L. vinculum, Curt. (*) Phil. Mag. p. 124, 25 (1834); 
Steph. (*) Ill. p. 222, 28; L. fuscus, Steph. (*) Ill. p. 221, 
25 (1837); L. punctatissimus, Steph. (*) Ill. p. 221, 27 
(1837); Limnophilus punctatissimus, Brauer (*), Neurop. Aust. 
p- 51, fig. 72, 73; Limnephilus fuscatus, Steph. (*) Ill. p. 
222, 30 (1837); Limnephila fuscata, Ramb. Hist. Nat. 
Névrop. p. 483, 22; Desmotaulius Megerlei, Kol. Gen. et 
Spec. Trichop. pt. 1, p. 57, 2 (1848). 
Antenne black, with indistinct testaceous annulations. Head 
and prothorax dull blackish, with grey and black hairs inter- 
mingled. Palpi and mesothorax blackish. Anterior wings 
fuscous, thickly sprinkled with pale yellow dots, most numerous 
towards the costa; on the dorsal margin, below or enclosing the 
thyridium, is a large yellow spot, and another less distinct, almost 
opposite, on the costa; there is also frequently a large yellowish 
space about the anastomosis; pterostigma indicated by a spot 
rather darker than the ground colour; a darker streak along the 
middle towards the base, and the dorsal margin also darker; 
varies very much according as the yellow spots are more er less 
confluent; sometimes they are aimost entirely absent, excepting 
the large spot on the dorsal margin; sometimes there is no 
marked pterostigma. Posterior wings hyaline, the apex fusces- 
cent, with a darker pterostigma; veins fuscous. Legs testaceous, 
with black spines; anterior and intermediate tibiz with dark 
fuscous rings. Abdomen greyish-fuscous, with paler lateral 
lines. In the male the upper margin of the last abdominal seg- 
ment is much produced, rounded, with a blackish projection in the 
centre; app. sup. truncated, hollow; app. intermed. short, con- 
cealed in the cavity of the last segment; app. inf. short, black, 
with a tuft of long hairs at the tips. In the female the lateral 
valves are united into a tube, deeply notched on either side. 
Expanse of fore-wings 8—11 lines. 
A common species, frequenting standing waters, and appearing 
in summer. It is a most variable insect; Curtis described it 
under three different names; Stephens retained these and added 
three more. 
