HETEROCERA DREPANIDAE LIMACODIDAE 



401 



find Insects with the scales imperfect, they being few and small 

 and approximating in form to hairs ; in D. hyalina scales are 

 nearly entirely absent. In other genera, e.g. Peridrepana, Sirep- 

 toperas, there is only a very inferior state of scale -formation. 

 The few larvae that are known are peculiar ; they are nearly 

 bare of hair, without the pair of terminal claspers, while the 

 body is terminated by a long tubular process. They form a 

 slight cocoon among leaves. 



The members of the family were formerly much misunder- 

 stood, and were assigned to various positions in the Order. 

 There are now about 30 genera, and 150 species known, the 

 geographical distribution of the family being very wide. In 

 Britain we have half a dozen species. Cilix glaucata (better 

 known as C. spinula) is said " to undoubtedly imitate " the 

 excrement of birds. No doubt the Insect resembles that sub- 

 stance so as to be readily mistaken for it. This Insect has a 

 very wide distribution in North America, Europe and East 

 India, and is said to vary so much in the structure of its organs 

 as to justify us in saying that the one species belongs to two or 

 three genera. 



Fam. 26. Limacodidae (or Eucleidae). — These are some- 

 what small moths, of stout formation, sometimes very short in 

 the body; and with rather small wing - area. The family 

 includes however at present many Insects of diverse appearance ; 

 there are numerous forms in which 

 apple-green is a prominent colour ; 

 some bear a certain resemblance 

 to the Swifts, others to Noctuids ; 

 some,Iiosema and Staetherinia,a.Te of 

 extraordinary shapes ; certain very 

 small forms, Gavara, Ceratonema, 

 resemble Tortricids or Tineids ; a 

 few even remind one of Insects of 

 other Orders ; so that the group is 

 a mimetic one. Nagoda nigricans (Ceylon) has the male some- 

 what like a Psychid, while the female has a different system of 

 coloration and wing-form; In Scopelodes the palpi are in both 

 sexes remarkable ; elongated, stiff, directed upwards and brush- 

 like at the tip. Altogether there are about 100 genera and 

 400 species known ; the distribution of the family is very wide 

 VOL. VI 2d 



Fia. 199. — Mature larva of Apoda 

 testudo, on beeoh-leaf. Britain. 



