THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. LV.] 



JULY, 1922 



[No. 710 



BLASTOBASIS LIGNEA WLSM. (LEP.) : A SPECIES 

 NEW TO BKITA1N. 



By Wm. Mansbridge, F.E.S. 



In August, 1917, Mr. A. E. Wright captured at Grange-over- 

 Sands, N. Lancashire, a few worn specimens of a Tineid moth 

 and others again the following year. Various attempts were 

 made to identify the species without success. The worn condition 



Photo, by Mr. Hugh Main. 

 Blastobasis lignea Wlsm. x 2:— Figs. 1 and 2, typical ; 3 and 4, intermediates; 

 5 and 6, var. adustella Wlsm. 



of the specimens appeared at the time to be sufficient to account 

 for the inability to determine the name of the moth. In 1919 

 and 1920 Mr. Wright was fortunate enough to meet with the 

 insect in better condition and in larger numbers. A specimen 

 was sent to Mr. F. N. Pierce, who reported that the genitalia 

 were unknown to him. A larger amount of material now being 

 available a series of the moth was sent to Mr. J. Hartley 

 Durrant, who at once recognised it as Blastobasis lignea Wlsm. 

 The moth appears to be attached to the Cotoneaster, 

 Cotoneaster microphyllum Wallich, but the association is not 

 certain. The plant is freely cultivated as an ornamental shrub 

 in N. Lancashire, and as an introduced alien is found wild at 

 various places in the Lake District and in N. Wales. There is no 



ENTOM. — JULY, 1922. ° 



