THE MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF GUEENSEY. 



BY MR. W. A. LUFF. 



In papers read before the Society during 1882 and 1889 I 

 gave lists of the Butterflies and larger Moths of Guernsey. 

 These are known under the name of Maero-Lepidoptera. 

 Since that time I have been collecting material for a list of 

 the remaining families of Moths which are usually classed 

 together as Micro-Lepidoptera, this name being given to 

 them on account of the microscopic dimensions of many of 

 the species. They comprise several well-marked groups of 

 mostly small Moths of varied habits, and are very numerous 

 in species. 



The Deltoides are the largest in size of the Micro-Lepidop- 

 tera, the typical species being Hypena proboscidalis, a common 

 and well-known insect, the larva of which feeds upon the com- 

 mon nettle. They are familiarly known as Snout Moths, the 

 palpi being of great length and projecting far in front of the 

 head, looking almost like a forked proboscis. 



The Pyralides are a very large group, and may be known 

 when at rest by the appearance of their wings, which form a 

 sort of triangle, of which the apex is the head and thorax. 

 The larvae have very dissimilar habits. One species, Aglossa 

 pinguinalis, forms silk-lined tubes in the earth and feeds on 

 refuse, leaves, stems, husks, &c, as described by myself in our 

 Titans act ions for 1890, page 15. Other species feed on rolled 

 up leaves of various plants, whilst Cataclysta and Hydrocampa, 

 commonly known as china marks by the peculiar markings on 

 their wings, are remarkable as being the only family of 

 Lepidoptera that are aquatic in their larval state. The 

 caterpillars feed on water plants of various kinds and make 

 cases somewhat similar to that of the caddis worms, not, how- 

 ever, as these do, of vegetable debris, stones, &c, but of the 

 fresh leaves of the plants on which they feed. They live in 

 these cases beneath the surface of the water. 



