Monograph o/Coleophora. lxxiii 



Art. III. — A Concise Abstract of Zeller's Monograph of the Genus Coleophora, pub- 

 lished last December, in the fourth volume of the ' Linnaa Entomofogica ' (followed 

 by a list of the known British Species). By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



The genus Coleophora is one of the most easily denned of the smaller Tineidae. 

 In the larva state they are true miners, since they feed only on the inner substance of 

 the leaves, but at the same time they inhabit a tubular house, which, like the true 

 case-bearers, they can move about freely. The perfect insects, which have narrow, 

 lanceolate, posterior wings, with very long cilia, are best characterised by the antennae 

 and abdomen : the former are clothed with scale-hairs on the basal joint, which, if 

 not prolonged into a tuft, are at least longer on the front and stick out; not uncom- 

 monly is the lower part of the lash of the antennae clothed with similar scale-hairs. 

 The abdomen of a Coleophora has on the back of most segments two bald places, as 

 in no other known Tineidae ; but this character is hardly perceptible after death. 



Zeller divides the group into two genera, Coleophora and Goniodoma ; but the 

 latter at present contains only one species, the auroguttella of Fischer von Rosler- 

 stamm. 



The following table will be found to simplify the naming of specimens : — 



A. Metallosetia, St. (Damophila, Z.) 



Anterior wings brilliantly metallic greenish or bronze, posteriorly coppery and 

 violet. Antennae above the basal joint with metallic hairy scales, which, ac- 

 cording to the species, extend over a greater or less number of joints, and 

 sometimes occur only very sparingly. (Species 1 — 9). 



B. Porkectabia, Haw., St. (Eupista, H., Z.) 



Anterior wings not metallic, only with pale shining or dull long-lines (not black 

 with a white costa). Antennas richly clothed with hairy scales, except at the 

 end. 



a. Anterior wings long-pointed, almost hooked. Antennae pectinatedly 



haired to near the apex. (Species 10 and 11). 



b. Anterior wings generally long-pointed, not with recurved apices ; 



ground-colour ochreous yellow. Antennae with hairy scales. (Species 

 12—16). 



c. Anterior wings long-hooked, with recurved apices; with fine shining 



white long-lines. Antennae with hairy scales. (Species 17 and 18). 



C. Apista, H., Z. (Porrectaria, St. ex. p.) 



Anterior wings not with metallic, but with yellow or whitish ground colour, 

 pointed, rarely hooked. Antennae with a tuft of hair at the basal joint ; 

 lash generally quite bare, only on the lower joints is frequently a very slight 

 (hardly perceptible) thickening from scales. 



a. Anterior wings merely pointed, yellow, with white— generally silvery — 

 longitudinal lines and streaks (only No. 31 has them almost dull). 

 a. Near the costa is a silvery long-streak converging towards it. 



(Species 19 and 20). 

 0. The silvery streak lies on the costa itself, and does not reach the 



base. (Species 21 and 22). 

 y. The silvery streak as in /3, but it does reach the base. (Species 

 23—31). 

 VIII. APPENDIX. BB 



