314 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



short arid drooping, and the maxillary palpi are composed of 

 several joints. 



The larvse have eighteen rudimentary pro-legs, and mine in 

 leaves, but generally pupate outside the mine. 



The moths are often marked with brilliant metallic spots, 

 and might be very conspicuous, but for their diminutive size. 

 They are the smallest known Lepidoptera^ and the species 

 figured is the smallest of all. 



THE NUT MINER. MICROSETIA MICROTHERIELLA. 



(Plate CLVIIL, Fig. 8.) 



Nepticula microtkeriella, Stainton, Ins. Brit. Tineina, p. 302 

 (1854); id. Nat. Hist. Tineina, i. p. 118, pi. 2, fig. 3 

 (1855); Von Heinemann & Wocke, Schmett. Deutschl. 

 (2) ii. (2), p. 747 (1877). 



This Moth is found in various parts of Europe, including 

 Britain. It expands only a line and three-quarters. 



"Head and face yellowish, slightly mixed with fuscous. 

 Palpi whitish. Antennae fuscous ; basal joint whitish. Anterior 

 wings fuscous, slightly tinged with purple, especially towards 

 the apex; beyond the middle is a slightly oblique, rather 

 slender, whitish fascia ; cilia fuscous. Posterior wings grey, 

 with paler cilia. 



" The smallest Lepidopterous insect ! Appears in May and 

 August, but rarely met with in the perfect state ; the small 

 yellowish-green larva makes extremely narrow tortuous galleries 

 in the leaves of the nut and hornbeam, occurring in autumn 

 and July. It is sometimes so abundant that upwards of thirty 

 may be found in a single leaf ! The rather firm cocoon is of 

 a pale buff colour " (Sfainton). 



GENUS MICROPTERYX. {Micropterygidce?) 

 X) Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 426 (1826?). 



