214 BEITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



Psiche, Brd., " Cat. Lep. Doubs," p. 64 (1847). Talacporina, Seeb., " An. Soc. Esp. 

 N.H.," viii., p. 124 (1879). Talaeoporia, Frey, " Lep. cler Schweiz," p. 334 (1880). 



This genus was diagnosed by Hiibner (Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 400) 

 as follows : 



Die Schwingen mit dunklen Schiippgen undeutlicb bezeichnet. — Taleporia 

 glabrella, Ochs., Psy., 8=pseiidobombycella, Hb., Tin., 212, 282. T. triqxietrella, 

 Zinc, Beob., 5; Hb., Tin., 373. 



The two species included by Hiibner in Taleporia are heterogeneric, 

 and, in 1839 (Isis, p. 182), Zeller restricted the name to tubulosa 

 (jpseudobombycella), which, therefore, became the type, whilst later 

 triquetrella was included in Duponchel's genus Solenobia, as restricted 

 by Zeller [Linn. Ent., vii., p. 343). The discovery of other Taleporiid 

 species, however, not strictly belonging to the genus Taleporia, led to 

 the genus becoming again heterogeneric, and in Staudinger and Wocke's 

 Catalog (1871), it contained, besides the true Taleporias, Bankesia 

 conspnircatella and B. alpestrella, Luffia lapidella and Bacotia sepium 

 (tabulella), the two last-named even belonging to a different family of 

 the Psychids. Stainton showed (Ent. Ami., 1870, p. 1) that pxibi- 

 cornis was not a Taleporia, and Meyrick has removed it to the Lam- 

 proniids. The genus really is a very restricted one and contains, pro- 

 bably, not more than three (or four) Palaearctic species — politella, borealis, 

 tubulosa and ? improvisella. The chief characters of the genus may be 

 summarised as follows : 



Ovum. — Oval in outline ; long axis horizontal ; pearly in tint, surface smooth ; 

 deposited in ease. 



Case. — Trigonal in section, with fairly sharp ridges, except centrally, where it 

 is nearly cylindrical ; very long compared with width ; with three distinct flaps at 

 posterior end ; covered with particles of earth, vegetable and animal debris ; very 

 solid and resistant (beyond other Psychids even of much larger size). 



Larva. — Head small, black, shiny ; antennas rather long ; prothorax large, 

 black, corneous ; meso- and metathorax with corneous plates, brown ; abdominal 

 segments tapering from 7 ; tubercles on chitinous plates, ii almost behind i, iv 

 (strong), v (weak), in line longitudinally, vii with two setse; the prolegs short, 

 crochets form a narrow oval, broken on inner margin, hooks strong ; spiracles small, 

 round, stand out distinctly ; lateral flange (divisible into three elements) strongly 

 developed. 



Pupa. — The dorsal head-piece moderate ; labrum round, two hairs at base 

 prominent ; mandibles rounded, not projecting much ; maxillary palpi well de- 

 veloped, continuous with maxilla ; labium large, roughly rectangular, labial palpi 

 small in ? , separate, tubercular, one at each front corner of labium ; femur of 1st 

 pair of legs very long ; tubercles almost as in larva; ii at anterior margin of inter- 

 segmental membrane ; the patch of dorsal spines (on 3-8) reaches behind i 

 medially ; recurved hooks on abdominal segments 8-10 ; dor so-anal spikes very 

 minute; spiracles large; movable incisions 2-3 (dorsally), 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7 (male 

 7-8 also). 



Imago. — Head rough ; tongue and maxillary palpi obsolete ; labial palpi, por- 

 rect, terminal joint pointed ; posterior tibiae loosely haired ; eyes compound, ocelli 

 ( s ) at base of antenna ; antennas (in s ) ciliated, basal joint without pecten. 

 Female apterous with anal tuft. 



Neuration. — Forewing : lb furcate, 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to termen. Hindwing : 

 all veins separate (Meyrick). 



The genus is very characteristic of the Micro-Psyehicls, yet it com- 

 mences to show certain Macro-Psychid characters. Among these aie 

 the somewhat delicate nature of the egg, the migration of tubercle ii 

 behind i in the larva, the general resemblance of the female to these 

 of the Fumeids, especially when the eggs are laid, as also the large 

 size, colouring and general appearance of the male imago. The male 

 Taleporias have somewhat broad wings, large ocelli (as well as com- 



