NEPTICULA TENGSTROMI. 247 



ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION. Nepticula tengstromi, n. sp. Kopfhaar 

 rostbraunlich gelb, im Gesicht (und beim 5 ) gelblicher, Nackenschopfe 

 schwiirzlich braun ; Fiihler briiunlich, gelblich schimmernd ; Augen- 

 deckel klein, weisslich, kaum gelblich schimmernd ; Vorderfliigel 

 blass, etwas griinlich gelb messinggliinzend mit schwach purpur- 

 braunlichem Schimmer (beim $ starker), die Spitze purpurbraun 

 (beim $ violettblau gemischt) ; die sehr breite verticale Binde sehr 

 weit nach aussen geriickt, weisslich gelb, stark metallglanzend. 

 Leib, Beine und Unterseite ganz ohne gelblichen Schimmer, nur mit 

 braungrau weisslichem. Fliigellange 2-2-2 mm. 6 $ $ , 2 $ ? . 

 Kaupe in Rubus chamaemorus, blass gelb, ihr Kopf fast wasserhell, 

 blass braunlich mit dunkler braunen Nahten und Gebiss, Keulenflecke 

 klein, grau ; Bauch mit mandelforrnigen, nach hinten kleineren, 

 braunlich grauen Kautenflecken. Ei ober- oder unterseitig ; Mine erst 

 fadenformig in gedehnten Windungen, dann plotzlich grosse, von 

 kleinen, nach aussen convexen Kreisbogen begrenzte Makel ; Klappe 

 oberseitig ; Koth zuerst als feiner, oft unterbrochener Faden, hierauf 

 in Kliimpchen und dann, beim Eintritt in die Makel, in Korner 

 zerfallend, die zuerst in der Gangrichtung, dann zerstreut liegen 

 (Nolcken, Lep. Fauna von Estland, pp. 776-777). 



IMAGO. Head yellowish. Anterior wings 5 mm. ; pale greenish- 

 yellow, with a faint purplish-brown gloss ; the apex purplish-brown ; 

 a broad vertical transverse pale golden band beyond the middle. 

 Posterior wings and fringes very pale brownish-grey, with a whitish 

 silky gloss. 



N. TENGSTROMI AS A BRITISH SPECIES. There is only one British 

 specimen extant of this species. The specimen was bred by Sang, 

 from liubus chamaemorus, who, it is believed, received the mines from 

 Carrington, whilst the latter was collecting in Scotland. The speci- 

 men is now in the collection of Dr. Mason, of Burton-on-Trent, who 

 writes : " I have been comparing my specimen of N. tenystrb'mi with 

 Continental specimens of that species, and with Nolcken's description. 

 As far as I can make out, it is that species. It is, however, a male, 

 and the male is much less characteristic than the female " (in litt., 

 June 6th, 1898). Carrington writes: "I have delayed answering 

 your enquiry about Nepticula tengstrbmi until I could refer to my notes 

 taken during my visits to Scotland, in 1874 and 1875. I do not find 

 any special notice that would help me to exactly remember the circum- 

 stance. I well recollect gathering leaves of Rubits chamaemorus with 

 Nepticula mines in them, and sending them to several lepidopterists to 

 rear the moths ; probably Mr. Sang was among the recipients. Most 

 of the mined leaves were gathered on hills south of Loch Bannoch, 

 though I may have sent some from Brasmar, but the latter locality is 

 least likely" (in litt., June 2nd, 1898). Meyrick writes (Handbook, 

 etc., p. 718) : " Supposed British specimens of N. tenf/strdmi, Nolck., 

 would seem to have been dwarfed examples of N. aurella." We have 

 no suspicion upon what data this remark is based, nor have we ever 

 heard of any " supposed British specimens " other than the one in 

 Dr. Mason's collection. [Threlfall has since informed us that he bred 

 specimens of a Nepticulid in April, 1881, from larvae collected at 

 Braemar, August 15th, 1880, but he is very doubtful whether they are 

 referable to this species.] 



COMPARISON OF N. TENGSTROMI WITH ALLIED SPECIES. This species 



