THE COLEOPHORA, OR TENT-MAKERS. 33 



THE COLEOPHORA, OK TENT-MAKERS. 



THE Coleophora are a genus of the Micro-Lepidoptera. 

 The moths are not nearly so beautiful as the Nepticulce and 

 Lithocolletis described in the preceding chapter. Their wings 

 are lanceolated, or shaped like a lance, of one colour, or 

 striped with silken grey under-wings, and they sit with bodies 

 closely pressed to the substance on which they rest, with 

 their antennee thrown forward, much like the Tisclierice. 

 But the larva? of this genus manifest an instinct and design 

 which open for us a delightful field of observation. They 

 feed upon the parenchyma or cellular tissue of leaves, and 

 mine irregular blotches as they feed ; but with the cuticle, or 

 leaf itself, or husk of seed, they fashion tents, under which 

 they walk about, and within which they retire when the time 

 of pupa rest has come, and the resurrection into perfect life is 

 at hand. 



The Coleophora may be collected from June to October. 

 When you find a blotched or mined leaf with a round hole, 

 as truly outlined as if drilled with a centre-bit, you may be 

 sure that a Coleophora has been feeding there, and this little 

 hole was the entrance into its pasture-ground, covered closely 

 by its tent, whilst the owner penetrated into the soft, juicy 

 parenchyma, and stretched away, as far as its body would 

 reach, on all sides, careful only to keep its anal hooks at the 

 tent-door to secure a retreat on the least alarm. 



" These tiny caterpillars," says Mrs. Lane Clarke, "scarcely 

 noticed by the unassisted eye, are wonderful in their instinct, 

 as the Lithocolletis are marvellous in their beauty. Here is 

 a mere speck, a little brown naked worm, busy on the leaf 

 before me ; nothing can be more insignificant in appearance, 



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