September, 1894. ' 193 



variable in such details as colour of head and plate, were much greener than those 

 from other localities, which yielded the ordinary paler form. In both forms of the 

 larva he would describe the prothoracic plate as usually, though by no means in- 

 variably, ooncolorous with the head . 



(For other details, see Table of Species). 



Larva and pupa of LiTA obsoletella, F. v. E. 



" The larva has sixteen legs. When quite young it is pale green with a blackish- 

 brown head and prothoracic plate ; when full grown it has a pale rose-red dorsal 

 stripe, and sometimes also shows that colour to a less degree on the sides. The 

 warts are very small and blackish-grey, each emitting a whitish hair. The head is 

 shining honey-yellow, the prothoracic plate blackish-brown, divided and edged with 

 whitish, the shining anal flap without markings. The claws and ventral legs 

 grrenish- white." 



Mr. Fletcher (MS.) describes the head as " pale brown," and mentions the fact, 

 not actually stated by Fischer, that the body of the well-grown larva is pale yellowish- 

 green. 



" The pupa is brownish-yellow, it has (shortly before emergence takes place) 

 shining dark red eyes, and bears on the anal extremity small hooks, spikelets, and 

 bristles of various shapes." 



Fischer came to the conclusion that the egg is introduced through the soft bark 

 into the pith, and says that the young larva tunnels to a spot close above the axil of 

 a branch, twig, or leaf-stalk, where it bores a hole outwards for the extrusion of the 

 frass (which is always seen in the mouth of it or hanging therefrom), and for the 

 ultimate escape of the moth. He observed that in spite of their protected position 

 large numbers of larv® were dragged out by small yellow ants, or stung by ichneumon 

 flies ; and mentions that the growth of the plant does not appear to be injui-ed 

 even when, as frequently happens, the stem, branches, and twigs are all tenanted (in 

 one instance he counted 36 larva; in one plant!), but Mr. Fletcher (MS.) says that 

 their forward growth is checked and they become thickened. The larva, when ex- 

 tracted from its burrow, is very active. 



{For other details, see Table of Species). 



In Ent. Ann., 1859, p. 163, Mr. Stainton says, that larvaj found by Mr. Bond at 

 the beginning of October mining the leaves and boring the stems of Chenopodiitm 

 maritimum (= Suceda maritima, Dum.), in the Isle of Wight, were probably those 

 of Oelechia obsoletella. From the nature of the plant and the habits of obsoletella 

 it seems clear that none of the larvae then found were referable to this species, and 

 I have little doubt that all were those of atriplicella, which, though not a true 

 stem-borer, will at times gnaw into the soft upper parts of the stems. 



While closely studying this group it has been my good fortune 

 to be able to examine all the allied continental species in the Frey, 

 Stainton, and Zeller collections, as well as those in Lord Walsingham's 

 rich cabinet ; these include almost all the described ones of which 

 the names are known to me, and some that are still undescribed. 



In conclusion, I wish to express my hearty thanks to Lord Wal- 

 ainghum for his kind assistance in many ways, and to my excellent 



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