Puhl 3. VH. 1.014. MALACODKA; OPEROPHTERA. Ry F. B. Proijt. 193 



areole single, long, 1=' radial stalked; hindwing spatulate, a little truncate at the outer margin, which projects 

 a little in the middle, frenulum nearly obsolete, probably non-functional, the base of the wing with a costal 

 expansion, costal vein anastomosing with cell, 2"'' subcostal stalked. Wing-expanse 29 mm, colour entirely reddish- 

 brown, paler on the disc and at the base of the hindwing, with a slight golden reflection. The author 

 compares the neuration etc., with Operophtera and suspects that the ? might be apterous. 



42. Genus: Malacodea Tgatr. 



Face Qat. Palpus minute. Tongue vestigial. Antenna in cf with joints slightly projecting, furnished 

 with long slender cilia. Hindtibia with a single pair of short spurs. Wings rather delicate, thinly scaled. 

 Frenulum wanting. Forewing with cell rather long, areole double, both parts long, the dividing vein (2"'' sub- 

 costal) arising close to the end of the cell or even stalked, 1^' radial stalked; 2""* arising from the middle of 

 the discocellulars. Hindwing with cell long, costal anastomosing to near its end, discocellulars biangulate, 

 2"*^ radial arising rather near 3''''. ? unknown, probably wingless. 



This interesting genus contains only a single Arctic species. It is certainly related to Operophtera, 

 but differs in some important characters. 



M. regelaria Tgstr. (12 a). Pale brownish grey, glossy, the markings darker brown. Forewing with the regelaria. 

 median vein and its branches and the three radials darkened ; subbasal line angulated, antemedian double, 

 bent outwards in middle so as to approach the postmedian, the central area in consequence narrow posteriorly, 

 sometimes constricted to a point on the 2""^ median and on the fold, enclosing a rounded spot between; post- 

 median and the succeeding lines angled near costa, thence nearly parallel with distal margin, undulate; cell- 

 spot distinct. Hindwing with smaller cell-dot and weak postmedian lines. Underside the same, or slightly 

 weaker-marked. Lapland and St. Petersburg in May. Rare. 



43. Genus: Operophtera Hbn. 



Characters as given under Malacodea, with the following differences: Hindtibia with all spurs. Fore- 

 wing with areole single, though very long, discocellulars of this wing as well as of hindwing biangulate, with 

 the 2""^ radial arising from the lower angle. ? antenna simple, tongue slightly better developed than in the cf, 

 wings rudimentary, forewing at most as long as the body, sometimes much shorter, its posterior margin longer 

 than its anterior; in the North American representatives (subgenus Rachela Hulsf) entirely apterous. 



The early stages of some of the species are only too well known, being among the greatest enemies 

 of the fruit-grower and the forester and an enormous literature has been devoted to their study and the means 

 of their destruction. The eggs are laid under bark or on twigs and buds in the winter and the young larvae 

 hatch early in the spring, burrowing at first into the tenderest shoots, but later feeding indiscriminately on 

 leaves or flowers. The ? being incapable of flight, great numbers can be caught and killed on the tree-trunks 

 by means of rings of cart-grease, but evidence is accumulating that the cf sometimes carries the ?. 



The species inhabit Northern and Central Europe, with a few more southerly localities, parts of Northern 

 Asia and North America. 



0. fagfata Scharfenb. (= boreata Hbn.) (6 e, as boreata). On an average rather larger than brumata, fagata. 

 but always readily distinguishable in the cf by its paler, less yellow-brown forewing and whitish hindwing and 

 in the ? by having the wings almost as long as the body, the forewing with a conspicuous blackish band or 

 double line just beyond the middle. — ab. fasciata Petersen has the distal part of the median area of the fasciata. 

 forewing and a corresponding line on the hindwing considerably darkened, giving it a somewhat banded 

 appearance. Underside also much more sharply marked than in the type. — The egg is very distinct in shape 

 from that of brumata, being cut off flat at one end; the pitting is much deeper and more irregular and the 

 colour more orange. The larva feeds .chiefly on birch, in some districts also on beech, spinning up a leaf for 

 a habitation; in its earlier stages it is distinguished from that of brumata by its darker (at first blackish) green 

 colour and black head, but at its last moult changes materially, now differing in its lighter yellowisli green 

 colour and black head and legs; the subdorsal line is much broader than in brumata. fagata larva is full fed 

 in early June and pupates in a compact cocoon mixed with earth. Pupa light brown, cremastral projection 

 broader than long, ending in two hooks. The moth emerges in October and the begimiing of November and 

 although somewhat local is often to be found in great profusion by night among birch trees. Central and 

 Northern Europe and S. E. Russia. 



IV 25 



