308 



William T. M. Forbes 



Family 22. BLASTOBASID^l 



(Gelechiidce, in part) 



Head smoothly scaled, with the scales long and curving down over 

 face, often diverging and covering the face and the base of the antennas 

 with a fanlike tuft (fig. 179). Antennae long, scape broad, with a heavy 

 pecten more or less mixed with scales (fig. 178) sometimes forming a 

 definite eye-cap (Calosima). Shaft with two bands of scales to each 

 segment, one more broadly interrupted below than the other; sensory 

 hairs strong, especially in males. Many of the Blastobasinae have the 

 shaft notched at the base in the male. Palpi typically smoothly scaled 

 and upturned beyond the vertex (fig. 178) ; reduced in the Pigritiinse 

 (fig. 179), never reaching beyond the middle of the front, but smoothly 

 scaled or nearly so ; in the latter often modified, with a specialized sen- 

 sory area in the male. Tongue strong, scaled at base. Fore wing with 

 R x arising well toward base of wing, R 2 near apex of cell, usually 

 more than nine-tenths way out on the cell and much shorter than 

 R x ; R 3 arising from upper angle of cell ; R 4 and R 5 long-stalked, usually 

 arising from end of cell, and well separated from R 3 , M x free, M 2 to 

 Cu 2 arising in a group from lower angle of cell, Cu 2 starting off at 



Figs. 175-179. 

 175, Holcocera purpurocomella ( 



ELASTOBASID^ 



venation; 176, Blastoiasis phycidella 

 (Europe), venation; 177, Pigritia species, venation; 178, side view of head 

 of Blastobasinae; 179, front view of head of Pigritia, showing minute palpi 



and imperfect eye-cap. 



right angles, and usually running straight across to inner margin, 

 perpendicular to M 2 ; M 3 and Cu x intermediate in direction. M 2 and 

 M 3 often stalked ; 1st A developed at margin, sometimes arising from 

 2d A near its tip; 2d A normal and forked at the base also. Fore 

 wing with a thickened stigma between R x and costa. Hind wing 

 narrower than fore wing, Sc and R normally fused for a short 

 distance at base; R and M x well separated, parallel; M 2 closely 

 associated with Cu-stem; M 3 often stalked with M 2 or Cu x or lost; 

 Cu 2 normal, much farther from end of cell than in fore wing. Anal 



