THE BEITISH PSYCHIDES. 69 



The British Psychides {with a plate). 



By Eev. C. R. N. burrows, F.E.S. 



The object of this note is to invite attention to a very interesting- 

 " group," or as I prefer to regard it, a " complete homogeneous group " of 

 Lepidoptera, which, it would seem from the small amount of informa- 

 tion available to the learner, has been much neglected in Britain. 

 It is produced at this time of year, in order that the study may, per- 

 chance, incite the available entomologists — too old or too young for 

 active service — to give their leisure to looking out for the cases of these 

 insects. 



I write as a learner myself. With the exception of the exhaustive 

 treatment of the subject by J. W. Tutt {British Lepidoptera, vol. ii., 

 1900) I know of no serious attempt in the English language to grapple 

 with this group. Eeaders of that treatise will recognise the author's 

 characteristic effort to collect all available information, and his acknow- 

 ledgment of the call for more energetic attempts to clear up the difficult 

 problems connected with it. 



The Psychides are a puzzling group of numerous species, evidently 

 closely related and extremely difficult to separate. The study has been 

 hampered by the prevailing idea of sharing them out between the- 

 Macro- and Micro-Lepidoptera, an idea slain by Tutt and to be buried 

 by ni\" study of the genitalia. Other efforts having produced but doubt- 

 ful results, Dr. T. A. Chapman (whose investigations really form the 

 backbone of Tutt's work) attacked the neuration, the antennae, and the 

 tibial armature of the imagines. A certain sum of results was attained, 

 but many questions remained unsolved, especially as to how many 

 species are passing under the name of Fumea casta (/ nitidella, rohori- 

 colella, inter mediella, etc.), and how many as Epichnnpterix pnlla {radi- 

 ella, etc.). Dr. Chapman has generously placed the whole of his 

 material at my disposal for examination of the genitalia, in the hope 

 that this investigation may afford a solution of the problems, with the 

 sole stipulation that the whole shall be finally deposited in the National 

 Collection at South Kensington. I am using Tutt's classification of 

 the Palaearctic Psychides {loc. cit., p. 431), which I regret is too exten- 

 sive to reprint with this. My present notes do not profess to cull 

 observations published since the work quoted, but rather aim at record- 

 ing my own observations. 



In all species of these Psi/chides the larval cases are of paramount- 

 interest and importance. Every specimen collected should, if possible, 

 be preserved with its case. 



The species with apterous females are of necessity extremely 

 localised, being unable to travel far. Wind, water, carriage by animals 

 and birds, cartage of crops, would appear to be amongst the means by 

 which they are dispersed. This would result in the formation of 

 colonies, and colonies of distinct races, even species, in close proximity. 



The ideal method of collecting will be the gathering of the cases,, 

 when the full-fed larvse climb up and attach themselves to stems, tree- 

 trunks, fences, posts, walls, or rocks for pupation. There appears to 

 be no great difficulty in keeping the larvae through the winter or in 

 rearing from the eggs, in metal boxes — not too dry. The season for 

 collecting the cases will be up to the time of emergence. I hope that 

 April 15th, 1917. 



