34 William T. M. Forbes 



SYNOPSIS OF THE FAMILIES OF LEPIDOPTERA 



Suborder Jugatse. Moths with fore and hind wings similar in form 

 and venation, and with at least four radials in the hind wing. Base 

 of cubitus fused with 1st A, a short portion of it appearing like a 

 cross vein between 1st A and the apparent base, which is in fact the 

 arculus. Wing membrane spinulated (fig. 30). Frenulum rudimen- 

 tary or absent. Fore wing with a separate lobe, or jugum, at base 

 of inner margin. Larvas with dorsal setae similarly arranged on 

 thorax and abdomen. 



Family 1. Micropterygidae. Minute moths, with functional mandibles, and max- 

 illae of primitive type formed of galea, lacinia, and palpus; feeding on pollen. 

 Fore wing with subcosta forked near its middle. Female with ten abdominal 

 segments preserved and without ovipositor. Larvae with modified clubbed setae, 

 feeding on wet moss. Pupas with large mandibles. 



Family 2. Eriocraniidae. Minute moths, with rudimentary mandibles, and max- 

 illae possessing a short coiled tongue. Lacinia absent. Subcosta of fore wing 

 forking near its apex. Female with complex piercing ovipositor, laying its eggs 

 in the tissue of leaves. Larvae without hooks on the prolegs, which are rudi- 

 mentary; with simple setae, mining in leaves. Pupae with large mandibles. 



Family 3. Hepialidae. Large, or very large, moths, with rudimentary, nonfunc- 

 tional mouth parts, save for the labial palpi. Subcosta of the fore wing forking 

 near its middle or simple. Female without piercing ovipositor. Larvae of normal 

 caterpillar form, boring in stems and roots; with a circle of hooks on the prolegs. 

 Pupae with small obscure mandibles, and rudimentary, divergent maxillae. 



Suborder Frenatae. Moths with hind wing much smaller, or shorter 

 and broader, than fore wing, with at most two free branches of radius. 

 Cubitus straight to base, no portion of it appearing like a crossvein. 

 Wing membrane rarely spinulated. No jugum. Hind wing usually 

 with a frenulum. Antennae rarely clubbed, and clubbed in none of 

 our forms which lack a frenulum. Pupa with trachea R 4+5 arising 

 from the stem of radius beyond that of 'R 1 . Larvae almost never with 

 dorsal setae similarly arranged on thorax and abdomen. 



*Wings with aculece over the general surface. 



Superfamily Incurvarioidea. Venation fairly complete ; antennae 

 without eye-cap; female with piercing ovipositor (so far as known): 

 larvae usually case-bearers when mature. 



Family 4. Incurvariidae. Characters of the superfamily. 



Superfamily Nepticuloidea. Venation much reduced ; cell very small 

 or absent ; antenna with large eye-cap ; female without ovipositor, 



