594 INSECTA ORDERS LEPIDOPTERA AND HEMIPTERA. 



Many entomologists regard the Pyponomcutidce, as more closely allied to 

 the Bombyces than to the Tinem. Many Tinew mine the leaves of grasses, and 

 this habit is characteristic of the Elachistidce. Others, like the Nepticulidce, 

 a family which includes the smallest moths known, make long galleries or 

 mines, as they are called, between the membranes of a leaf. These may often 

 be found on leaves of bramble, nut, etc. ; but such mines are not always due 

 to the larvae of Tineas, ; for this habit is shared by other insects. Thus there 

 is a very common mine on holly leaves which is produced by the larva of a 

 two-winged fly. Some larvae which feed in a similar manner produce a blotch 

 on the leaf, and not a mine. One of the commonest of these blotches is that 

 formed by the larva of the beautiful delicate little Gracilaria syringella 

 (Linn.) on the leaves of the lilac. 



The Pterophoridce, or plume moths, are now considered by most authors 

 to be allied to the Pyrales. They are very delicate insects, with long, 

 slender bodies and legs, and long wings, measuring an 

 inch or less in expanse, and cleft almost to the base 

 into separate feathers, two on the fore-wings, and 

 three on the hind-wings. The largest, commonest, and 

 most conspicuous among them is the white plume 

 moth, Pterophorus pentadactylus (Linn.). Its larva 

 feeds on Convolvulus, and it may often be seen floating 

 about weedy places, strawberry beds, etc., looking like 

 a snow-flake. Strawberry beds are a favourite resort 

 of many insects, probably for purposes of conceal- 

 ment. 



The last family of moths, the Alucitidce, which forms an isolated group, is 

 represented in England by the twenty -plume moth, Alucita hexadactyla 

 (Linn.). Its larva feeds in the buds of the honey- 

 suckle. The moth is grey, with broad wings about two- 

 thirds of an inch in expanse, and it is often noticed 

 on windows, walls, etc., sitting with its wings spread 

 out flat, and looking like one of the smaller Geo- 

 metrse. But on a closer inspection we find that 

 each wing is split up into six separate feathers, which 

 distinguishes it at once from any other moth found 

 in this country. 



Fig. 84. WHITE PLUME 

 MOTH (Pterophorus penta- 

 dactylus). 



Fig. 85.- 



TWENTY- PLUME MOTH 

 (Alucita hexadactyla). 

 V Nat, size, ' 



ORDER HEMIPTERA (BUGS AND FROG-HOPPERS). 



This is a somewhat extensive order of insects, with four wings, of which 

 the front pair, or tegmina, are usually of a stouter consistency than the hind- 

 wings. They are divided into two main sections. In the first, the Hemip- 

 tera Heteroptera, or true bugs, the tips of the tegmina are usually trans- 

 parent, and veined ; but in the Hemiptera the fore-wings are nearly of the 

 same consistency throughout. In many large groups of Hemiptera, however, 

 the fore-wings are transparent and veined, like the hind-wings ; but all the 

 insects belonging to both sections of the order may be known by their strong 

 sucking proboscis, and the absence of mandibles. The metamorphoses are 

 incomplete. 



