I04 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY. 



MICROLEPIDOPTERA.— Part I. 



By Prof. C. H. Fernald, Amherst, Mass. 



The group of insects known as microlepidoptera may be con- 

 veniently divided into the following families, viz. : Pyralidae, 

 Pterophoridae, Tortricidae and Tineidae. Some authors regard 

 them as superfamilies under the names Pyralidina, Tortricina, 

 Tmeina and Pterophorina, in the order given. Others consider 

 the last-named group as a family under the Pyralidina. but it 

 seems more natural to consider them a distinct family and place 

 them immediately after the Pyralidae, to which they seem most 

 nearly allied. 



The family Pyralidae includes medium- and small-sized insects 

 ranging in expanse of wings from lo to 60 mm. Their fore wings 

 are entire and more or less triangular in form, while the hind 

 Avings are sometimes wider, and, when at rest, are more or less 

 folded and covered by the fore wings, which are placed horizon- 

 tally or sloping, with the hinder borders touching, along the line 

 ■of the body. Some of the species (Crambids and Phycids) have 

 narrower fore wings and roll them around the body when at rest. 



The maxillary palpi and tongue are usually well developed, 

 though the latter is abortive in some species. The ocelli are 

 usually present. 



The fore wings have twelve, eleven, ten, nine, or even in some 

 species only eight veins. The dorsal vein (ib) is generally ac- 

 companied by a short internal vein (la), which sometimes runs 

 to the hinder margin, sometimes it is lost before reaching the 

 margin, and sometimes it curves up and joins the dorsal vein. 

 This internal vein has very generally been overlooked, owing, 

 perhaps, to the fact that many persons mount their prepared or 

 bleached wings in Canada balsam, which renders many of the 

 finer veins entirely invisible. Wings designed for microscopic 

 study should be mounted in glycerine (see Packard's " Ento- 

 mology for Beginners," p. 269). Vein 5 arises much nearer to 

 4 than to 6, 8 and 9 are stalked. 



The hind wings have the frenulum developed, and normally 

 contain eight veins, but the number is sometimes reduced to 

 seven, and in a few species to six. There are three internal veins 



