ElachistidcE 



FAMILY ELACHISTID^E 



This is a large family of moths, many of which are almost 

 microscopic in size, but all are very beautiful. One of the larger 



species we have se- 

 lected for illustra- 

 tion. It lives in 

 the galls which its 

 presence produces 

 in the stems of the 



FIG. 249. Walshia amorphella. 



pba fruticosa). It 

 belongs to the genus 

 Walshia, and was 

 described under the 

 specific name amor- 

 phella by Clemens. 

 In its habits it re- 



minds us somewhat of the moth with the frightful name which 

 lives in the galls of the Golden-rod, about which something has 

 already been said. The accompanying cut, which has been taken 

 from Professor Riley's "Second Missouri Report," shows at a a 

 figure of the female moth enlarged. The larva, which is a soft 

 white little affair, is delineated at b, and the figures c and d show 

 the galls as they appear. The insect is found in the Appalachian 

 subregion. 



FAMILY TINEID^E 



"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth 

 corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal : but lay up for yourselves trea- 

 sures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do 

 not break through nor steal." MATTHEW. VI, 19, 20. 



The Tineidx are a very great family of moths, some of which 

 are of moderate size, but most of which are very minute. Among 

 them there are many insects which are exceedingly beautiful, 

 although they are so small, while many of them have great 

 economic importance, being destructive or beneficial. Of a few 

 of these we shall take opportunity to speak briefly. 



430 



