353 ORDER LEPIOOPTERA. 



Ypononicutidae. 



A FAMILY of the Lepidoptera, made up of very small moths, whose labial palpi are long 

 and slender, and still but slightly developed : it is allied to the TonmiciDiE and Tineidje; 

 but from the former it diflers in the length of the palpi, and from the latter in their non- 

 development. 



The body of the insect is slender, and somewhat elongated and depressed. The antennse 

 are very long and simple in both sexes. Wings also long, or a long oval and acute : they 

 are entire, but often ciliate or fringed. The colors are white or slate, marked by a few 

 bands of black : some, however, are ornamented with brilliant metallic colors. 



The larvae are often highly injurious to fruit-trees, especially those living in communi- 

 ties, which inhabit a common tent after the manner of the American tent caterpillars. 

 They have sixteen feet, and form cocoons in the midst of their webs. 



Plate xlvii, fig. 7, represents the typical form of the family : it is the Jidda dcgeerella, 

 from Westwood, The species have not always the long antennae of this one. 



Tineiclae. 



This family contains some of the smallest of the LEPiDorxEKA. Their wings are narrow, in 

 which respect they differ from the Tortricid^ ; and their palpi are well developed. The 

 head is often densely clothed with scales in front : the antennae are only moderately long ; 

 the spiral tongue is short ; and the wings are entire, but convoluted when at rest. 



The larvse are very destructive to woollens and household furniture, carpets, clothing, 

 furs, etc.; and when once they have taken possession of a house, it is difficult to dislodge 

 them. They are usually of a dirty white, sometimes of a brown color, with long hairs from 

 the posterior extremity ; but sometimes also naked, or furnished with a few hairs scattered 

 over the body. They form cocoons, which they frequently carry about Avith them ; and 

 their depredations consist in gnawing holes through the woollens, and other goods, when 

 they get possession of them ; so that when unfolded and held up to the light, the articles 

 are often found to be perfectly riddled. They undergo transformation in the little cases or 

 cocoons they have formed, and which may often be found in great numbers adhering to 

 spots where they were fixed by the larvse when about to undergo transformation. 



One of the most effectual modes of preserving woollens, furs, etc. from the depredations 

 of the moth, is to expose them to sunlight, and subject them to frequent examinations. 

 When such articles are kept in dark closets, and left undisturbed during the months of 

 June and July, they will suffer more or less from moths. Tobacco leaves, camphor, tur- 

 pentine, are poisonous to the moth, and may be employed as protectives against it. 



