THE CASE WEAVERS 



3065 



with a narrow black border. The species, which is abundant in certain parts of 

 England, as well as on the Continent, is shown in various stages of development in 

 the illustration on p. 3074. 



THE CASE WEAVERS Family PSTCHIDJE 



An interesting group of moths, although not noticeable either for size or color- 

 ation, is that of the case weavers. Their chief claim to notice is from the curious 

 habits of the larvae, which form from vegetable debris, 

 twigs, chips, etc., a case in which they dwell, pro- 

 truding merely the thoracic segments, with the three 

 pairs of legs belonging to them. Some other moths, 

 as for instance the genus Coleophora, also construct a 

 tough case of a somewhat similar nature but manu- 

 factured entirely of silk. Among other insects the 

 same habit of the larvae is found among the caddice 

 flies, which creep on river beds protected by a case of 

 incrusted shells, pebbles, twigs, etc. In the moths of 

 the present family the males alone possess well-devel- 

 oped wings, the females being wormlike, and often 

 without antennae, legs, or wings. The phenomenon 

 known as parthenogenesis has been observed among 

 members of this family. The moths are mostly dull 

 brown insects, and the various species are better dis- 

 tinguished by a comparison of the larval cases than of 

 the insects themselves. Of the many species embraced 

 in this family, one only can be described, and this but 

 briefly. This species (Psyche unicolor} is a dull brown 

 little moth, common in Central and Eastern Europe, 

 but not found in England. The larva of the male moth makes a larger and more 

 conspicuous case, than does the grub which will produce the wingless female. The 

 larvae hibernate securely inclosed in their cases, which are spun on a tree trunk or 

 other convenient object. In the spring the silken attachments are severed, and the 

 larva continues to feed until the time of pupation has arrived, when it again spins 

 up the mouth of the case to a tree or post, and changes within it to the pupa. The 

 male then emerges as a perfect moth, but the female, which is devoid of eyes, ovi- 

 positor, or any appendages worthy of being styled antennae or legs, remains in the 

 larval case even after it has emerged from the pupa. The organs for the produc- 

 tion of eggs are, however, complete, and parthenogenesis must, as in many other 

 cases, be looked upon as exceptional. 



PSYCHE MOTH. 



Male; b. Female, larva in case; c. 

 Female pupa; d. Female moth; e. 

 Male, larva in case; f. Male pupa. 

 (All of natural size.) 



Family 



The moths belonging to this family, like those of several others, do not possess 

 any proboscis; the antennae being pectinate in both sexes. The larvae are smooth, 



