MARCH, 1863. 217 



GELECHIA, Zeller.* 



Hind-wings trapezoidal, slightly or deeply emarginate below 

 the apex. The costal vein is simple, often there is a narrow 

 intercostal cell between the costal and subcostal veins at the 

 base of the wing. Most frequently the subcostal vein is bifid 

 about its apical third, rarely the subcostal vein is simple. 

 The median vein is 3-branched and nearly always the two 

 upper or superior branches arise from a common stalk, or 

 from one point. The discal cell is sometimes closed, when 

 it gives rise to a single nervule; sometimes unclosed, when 

 there is a single free discal nervule or none. When the 

 subcostal vein is simple, there are two discal nervules. 



Fore-wings oblong or elongate, pointed or obscurely 

 pointed. The apical nervule of the subcostal vein is usually 

 furcate and terminates in the costa before the apex, and below 

 it are five veins from the posterior end of the discal cell. 

 Sometimes the apical vein is trifid. 



Head smooth. With or without ocelli. Antennae with 

 joints thickly set. Labial palpi moderately long, or long, 

 reflexed; the second joint beneath slightly broader than the 

 basal joint, with appressed scales, hardly resembling a brush, 

 sometimes quite smooth; the terminal joint slender, almost 

 needle-like, smooth and pointed. Maxillary palpi very short. 

 Tongue of moderate length, clothed with scales. 



This genus is of great extent and comprises a considerable 

 diversity of species. The imago is extremely active. 



The habits of the larvae are extremely varied, feeding upon 

 leaves, flower-buds, young shoots, in the interior of grains 

 and seeds. The species that feed in buds and shoots are 

 mostly in the larva state in spring and the beginning of 

 summer ; those that feed in and upon leaves are met with in 

 summer and autumn, and those that feed on seeds do so in the 

 autumn and winter. 



G. nigratomella. Fore-wings shining white. The apical 

 portion of the wing is pale brown and contains an oblique 



See ante, p. 112. H. T. S. 



