Lepidoptera of New York and Neighboring States 91 



25. Nepticula tiliella Braun. Tuft ochraceous, collar white. Antennae black, 

 eye -caps shining white. Fore wings almost black, with a very faint, purple luster. 

 At the middle of wing a shining, pure white fascia, slightly oblique and a little 

 convex outwardly. Cilia gray on the dorsum, shining white from the tornus to 

 the costa. 3^5 mm. 



Ohio ; Kentucky. 



The larvae make serpentine mines on the upper side of leaves of basswood 

 {Tilia americana) . The mine is characterized by the tendency toward a spiral 

 form, with either the early or the later part inside, and by the frequency of angular 

 turns. 



There are two generations, the full-grown larvae appearing in early July and 

 late August. 



The pure white fascia and the white cilia, against which the outermost row 

 of black scales is sharply defined, distinguish this species. 



26. Nepticula rubifoliella Clemens. Head ocherous; eye-caps silvery white. 

 Thorax and fore wings almost black, with a shining silvery, or faintly golden, 

 fascia at the. middle of the wing; fascia convex outwardly and somewhat na>* 

 rowed at its middle, sometimes almost interrupted. Cilia Avhitish, so that the 

 marginal line of scales is defined. 4 mm. > 



The larvae mine leaves of blackberry, forming at first very narrow, linear mines, 

 which closely follow a vein or the margin of the leaf before enlarging into an 

 irregular blotch. 



Mines containing the larvae may be collected in July and September. 



27. Nepticula nysssefoliella Chambers. Tuft ochraceous; eye-caps shining white. 

 Thorax and fore wings black with very faint, purple reflections. In the middle 

 of the wing a shining silvery, or pale golden, fascia, slightly convex outwardly. 

 Cilia around the apex white, with marginal line of scales defined. Hind wings 

 pale gray, with an oval patch of androconia in the male. 4.5 to 6 mm. 



The larvae mine in the leaves of sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) , forming narrow, 

 linear mines (fig. 59) which abruptly enlarge into blotches measuring- 2 cm. or 

 more in length, with an average width of 5 or 6 mm. There are two or three 

 generations a year, the larvae of the first generation becoming full-grown in June. 



This is one of the most abundant species; moths may often be collected in great 

 numbers in the vicinity of the food plant. 



From N. rubifoliella,, its nearest ally, it is distinguished by its larger size and 

 the equal breadth of fascia throughout. 



28. Nepticula slingerlandella Kearfott. Tuft ochraceous, becoming paler behind, 

 where it merges into the pale ocherous or whitish collar. Eye-caps white. 

 Thorax and fore wings black with a faint bronzy luster, somewhat irrorated beyond 

 the shining white fascia situated just beyond the middle of the wing. Cilia pale 

 gray. 3.5 to 5 mm. 



New York; Ohio. 



The' larvae mine leaves of cultivated plums and prunes, wild plum (Prunus 

 americana), and occasionally sweet cherry, forming narrow, linear mines which 

 abruptly enlarge into irregular blotches. This species attains economic import- 

 ance in the plum orchards of northern New York, where its ravages have been 

 the subject of a bulletin by C. R. Crosby, in which are given further details of its 

 life history, together with numerous figures. There is a single generation of 

 moths in New York, and the larvae which are full grown in July do not produce 

 moths until the following year. Farther south, a second brood of larvae may 

 usually be collected, in September. 



29. Nepticula rossefoliella Clemens. Tuft ochraceous; eye-caps shining creamy 

 white. Fore wings almost black, with a very faint, dark blue and bronzy luster. 

 Just beyond the middle of the wing is a rather broad, straight, silvery, or very 

 pale, golden tascia. Cilia of the general hue, scarcely paler tipped opposite the 

 apex. 4.5 mm. 



