2152 Insects, 



A Monograph on the British Argyromiges. By H. T. Stainton, Esq. 



(Concluded from page 2097). 



Sp. 21. tenella, Zeller (fig. 21). 



Lithocolletis tenella, Zeller, Linn. Entom. i. 236, f. 30. 

 Argyromiges hortella, Bent. Mus. 



Expansion of the wings 3| lines. Head white. Forehead white. Palpi white. 

 Antennas white. Thorax white. Abdomen fuscous, with the extremity fulvous. 

 Legs white. Tarsi white, spotted with pale fuscous. Anterior wings white, with two 

 fuscous streaks arising near the middle of the wing, one on each margin, which meet 

 (or very nearly so) at an acute angle ; beyond there is another pair of streaks, meeting 

 at an obtuse angle, — that on the inner margin is less oblique than in Cramerella ; a 

 small white marginal triangle follows these streaks, the remainder of the wing being 

 fulvous, with the exception of two white comma-shaped marks on the costa, margined 

 internally with fuscous ; and towards the inner margin is a faint dark streak, in con- 

 tinuation, as it were, of the dark margin of the first costal spot : at the apex is an oval 

 black spot, round which, on the cilia, is a series of black dots, as in Cramerella : cilia 

 white, with three dark patches on the costa, one on each side of the pale spots ; the 

 last is rather curved downwards. Posterior wings pale gray ; cilia whitish. Some 

 specimens have a fuscous streak from the base of the anterior wings to beyond the 

 middle (as that figured). 



I took one in Torwood, Stirlingshire, June 11th last, beating it in a thicket, in 

 which were birch, oak and hazel underwood, and some fir trees. Mr. Weir has also 

 taken this insect in May, near Keymer, Sussex, beating it out of a hedge, in which 

 grew oak, bramble, whitethorn, &c. 



Zeller says of it, " This scarce species flies near Reichstadt and Vienna, on oaks, 

 in May and June." 



It may be distinguished from Cramerella by the four fuscous streaks on the costa, 

 instead of three, and by the less oblique direction of the second inner marginal streak, 

 and the faint indications of a third inner marginal streak. I do not mention the basal 

 streak here, as Zeller has made another species with a basal streak, that being its 

 greatest character to distinguish it from tenella : this species he calls Heegeriella : like 

 tenella, it has four costal streaks. Whether tenella varies, and this be only a variety, 

 I do not feel positive. My own specimen, which is the one figured and described, 

 approximates to Zeller's Heegeriella. Mr. Weir's specimens, without a basal streak, 

 and with the apical spot more prolonged (more of a line than a spot), appear to approx- 

 imate to the tenella of Zeller; but I certainly should not feel justified in making two 

 species of them without seeing a longer series of each. Mr. Allis has also a specimen 

 which resembles my own : the specimen in Mr. Bentley's collection resembles Mr. 

 Weir's specimens. 



Note. — Of Heegeriella, Zeller had only two males when he described it in the 

 Linnaea : surely where the species are so very closely allied, that is hardly enough to 

 form a species on. 



