ANNETTE P. BRAUN. 271 



Genus L.ITHOCOLL.ETIS. 



This genus was originally established for a number of European 

 species, which conform to the conception of the genus as defined by 

 Dr. Meyrick in his " Handbook of British Lepidoptera," p. 733. 

 Among our species there are in addition to the typical Lithocolletis, 

 two other groups, distinguished by structural differences, not great 

 enough to warrant the establishment of new genera. In accordance 

 with the opinion expressed by Dr. Meyrick in response to questions 

 regarding the value of these variations in the division of the genus, 

 the solidaginis group and that represented by desmodiella have been 

 ranked as subgenera, but the flat larval group is treated as "a nat- 

 ural and definable group of the genus." 



In order to include all of the American species, the definition of 

 the genus must be somewhat broadened, and it may then be charac- 

 terized as follows : 



Head (Plate XX, fig. 9). Face smooth, crown rough tufted. 

 Labial palpi porrected or drooping, moderately long, pointed. Max- 

 illary palpi rudimentary. Tongue moderate. Antennae nearly 

 attaining the wing length, simple in the male, basal joint thickened, 

 bearing a pecten (without a pecten in subgenus Porphyrosela). 



Forewings elongate, lanceolate, acuminate. 



Hindwings about one- half the breadth of the forewings, linear 

 lanceolate, cilia 4-5. 



Venation (Plate XX, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Forewings : 

 16 simple, 3 absent, 4 absent, 5 absent (typical Lithocolletis and 

 Porphyrosela), 5* and 6 stalked (subgenus Cremastobombycia), 7 to 

 costa, 8 absent, 10 absent, 11 absent (subgenus Porphyrosela). Hind- 

 wings : 3 absent, 4 absent, transverse vein absent between 2 and 5, 

 6 absent (typical Lithocolletis and Porphyrosela), 5 and 6* long 

 stalked (subgenus Cremastobombycia). 



Posterior tibioe with appressed hairs (except in subgenus Porphy- 

 rosela). 



All of the species of which the life history is known are leaf 

 miners throughout their entire larval existence, and all, with the 

 exception of ostensackenella, pupate within the mine. 



The three divisions may be separated by the following characters : 



* Discovery of more primitive forms, with more complete venation, may neces- 

 sitate a change in the interpretation of this venation. 



TBANS. AM. KNT. SOC., XXXIV. SEPTEMBER, 1908. 



