FAM. GELECHIAD/E 9I 
48. G. artemisiella, Kearfott, Journ. N. York Ent. Soc. Vol 1I, p. 160, pl. o, E. United States, Cali- 
f. 5 (1903). fornia. 
axenopis, Meyrick, Exot. Microlep. Vol. 2, p. 234 (1919). 
49. G. lenta, Meyrick, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. p. 41 (1917). Peru. 
50. G. atrifascis, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 45 (1917). Peru. 
51. G. ventralella, Zeller, Hor. Soc. Ent. Ross. Vol. 13, p. 348, pl.4, f. 116(1877). Colombia. 
52. G. loquax, Meyrick, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. p. 45 (1917). Peru. 
53. G. trichinasbis, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 41 (1917). Peru. 
54. G. crustaria, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 42 (1917). Peru. 
55. G. gregalis, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 43 (1917). Peru. : 
56. G. densata, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 42 (1917). Peru. 
G. absoluta, Meyrick, ibidem, p. 44 (1917). Peru. 
57: 
97. GENUS PHTHORIMAEA, MEYRICK 
Phthorimaea, Meyrick, Ent. M. Mag. Vol. 38, p. 103 (1902). — Type : T. oferculella, Zeller. 
Characters. — Head with appressed scales; ocelli posterior; tongue developed. Antennae 4/5, 
in gf simple or minutely ciliated, basal joint moderately elongate, without pecten. Labial palpi long, 
recurved, second joint thickened with scales, rough and furrowed beneath, terminal joint as long as 
second or slightly shorter or longer, with appressed scales, acute. Maxillary palpi very short, filiform, 
appressed to tongue. Posterior tibiae clothed with hairs above. Forewings seldom with slight scale-tufts ; 
15 furcate, 2 from towards angle, 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to costa, seldom 6 out of 7 near base or 7 and 8 out 
of 6, 11 from middle. Hindwings 1 or nearly, trapezoidal, apex more or less pointed, termen sinuate, 
cilia 2/3 to nearly 2; 3 and 4 connate, 5 somewhat approximated, 6 and 7 subparallel, sometimes rather 
approximated or bent inwards at base. 
Remarks. — Probably correlated with Gelechia. The species are often obscure, variable, and 
similar, requiring careful study, with knowledge of the larval habits : P. oferculella on. potato and 
P.heliopbaontobacco are well-known and very injurious pests. The name Lia, Treitschke, was erroneously 
applied to this genus by Heinemann and subsequent European authors. 
Geographical distribution of species. — Summarised thus : Palaearctic 133, American 24, 
South African 20, Indian 9, Australian 13, New Zealand 7. Hence it appears that Europe is the home 
of this genus, where it may have originated at the same time that Ge/echía appeared in North America; 
itis now spreading over the world, but in America, probably the scene of its first invasion, it has been 
' largely supplanted by its own derivative Gnorimoschema, specially adapted to the large Composite flora of 
that region. 
Larva (74 known) feeding in spun shoots, or often mining in leaves or stems, sometimes forming 
galls; almost always on low plants or herbs, rarely shrubs, never trees. 
Foodplants : Caryofhyllaceae 25, Chenopodiaceae 14, Compositae 13, Solanaceae 13, and 8 other Orders 
with only 2 or 1 species each, showing an extraordinary preference for the four first-named, of which 
moreover the Caryophyllaceae and. Chenopodiaceae are genetically closely related; connected with this 
preference is a fondness for dry and sandy localities, often also for sea-coasts. Further, when the species 
are grouped by their natural affinities, it is found that, in the case of each of these four Orders, all the 
species which feed on plants of one Order fall naturally together, without the intrusion of a single 
species known to feed on another of the four; all the Caryophyllaceous feeders fall together, all the 
Solanaceous (no other genus shows an equal attachment to Solanaceae) and so on. I am not acquainted 
