﻿34Q 



I.Kl'IDOPTERA 



the way of improvement of classification. The progress made 

 has been limited to a better comprehension and definition of the 



families. The nervuration of the wings is the character most, 

 in vogue for this purpose. As regards the larger groups, ami 

 Phylogeny, there is a general opinion prevalent to the effect that 

 Mieropterygidae, Eriocephalidae and Hepialidae are in a com- 

 paratively primitive condition, but as to the relations of these 

 families one with the other, or with oilier Lepidoptera, there is a 

 wide difference of opinion. 



The primary divisions of the family most often met with in 

 literature are: — either Rhopalocera ( = butterflies) and Hetero- 



1 Q 2 



Fi<;. 176.— C'lul.s of butterflies' 

 antennae. Terminal portions 

 of antenna of, 1, Pieris bras- 

 sicae ; 2, Styx infemalis ; •">, 

 ffestia idea (sub-family J>an- 

 aiiles) ; 4, Kmln hi lis proteus, 

 and ;">, Limochores tauinas 

 (Hesperiidae). (Alter Schatz 

 and Scudder.) 



cera ( = moths) ; or Macrolepidoptera and Microlepidoptera ; 

 the Macrolepidoptera including the butterflies and large moths, 

 the Microlepidoptera being limited to the families Tineidae 

 (now itself in process of division into numerous families) and 

 Tortricidae ; some entomologists including also Pyralidae, Ptero- 

 phoridae and Orneodidae in Microlepidoptera. The division of all 

 Lepidoptera into two series is merely a temporary device necessi- 

 tated by imperfect acquaintance with morphology. The division 

 into Macro- and Micro- lepidoptera is entirely unscientific. 



Series 1. Rhopalocera or Butterflies.— Antennae knobbed at tin- tip or 

 thickened a little before the tip, without pectinations, projecting 



processes, or conspicuous arrangements of cilia. Hind wings with- 

 out a frenulum, but with the costal nervine strongly curved at the 

 base (Fig. 161, II, B). 

 Series II. Heterocera or Moths. — Antennae various in form, only rarely 

 knobbed at the tip, and in such cases a frenulum present. In the 

 large majority a frenulum is present, and the costal nervure of the 

 hind-wing is either but little arched at the base (as in Fig. 161, 

 I, B) or it has a large area between it and the front margin ; 

 hut in certain families the hind wing is formed much as in 

 Rhopalocera. 



