THE MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA 



295 



Its fore wings are ochreous grey, with a narrow brown costal 

 margin, and a triangular brown patch on the costa. Beyond this 

 patch the wing is cleft. The hind wings con- 

 sist of three distinct brownish plumes, the 

 third of which has a small tuft of black 

 scales projecting from the middle of the 

 inner margin. 



The caterpillar feeds on the flower stalks 

 of the coltsfoot during March and April. 



im\ 

 ( J 



FIG. 215. GONO- 

 DACTYLA. 



TT 



FIG. 216. OSTEO- 

 DACTYLUS. 



Leioptilus osteodactylus 



This is another species of the same family. 

 It is not uncommon, but is more local than 

 the last. 



Its fore wings are pale yellow, with a 

 small brown dot at the commencement of 

 the dividing fissure, and a brown blotch on 

 the costal margin nearer the tip. The hind 

 wings are divided into three distinct plumes 

 like those of Gonodactyla. 



This is a later species, appearing on the 

 wing in July. 



Aciptilia pentadactyla 



The fore wings of this species are white, 

 frequently with a few greyish scales, and are 

 deeply divided into two feathery plumes. 

 The hind wings are pure white, and consist 

 of three plumes. 



This pretty insect is common and widely distributed, and flies 

 during June and July. 



The caterpillar feeds on the convolvulus in May. 



FIG. 217. PENTA- 

 DACTYLA. 



Alucita Jiexadactyla 



Our last example of the Pterophori is the Twelve-plume Moth, 

 the only British representative of the family Alucitida. 



This little insect is of a yellowish colour, with two dark bands 

 across the fore wings ; and both fore and hind wings are divided 

 into six distinct feathers. It is a common moth, and frequents 



