268 THE MICRO-LEPIDOPTEEA OP GUERNSEY. 



We now pass to the next group, the Crambida. These 

 are known as Grass Moths, many of them abounding in 

 grassy places, settling upon the stalks of grasses with their 

 heads downwards, in such profusion that at every step dozens 

 are disturbed. They are readily known by their narrow fore 

 wings and ample hind wings, which fold into little space 

 around the body when the insect is at rest, thus rendering 

 them very difficult of detection. 



The larvae of Galleria cereana and Meliphora alveariella 

 are very injurious to bees in hives, feeding on the honey, 

 sometimes greatly damaging the combs as well as destroying 

 the inhabitants. 



The next division of the Micro-Lepidoptera comprise the 

 Pterophori or Plume Moths. These may easily be recognised 

 by the plume-like nature of the wings. Usually each wing is 

 divided into three plumes, but in one species, Alucita poly- 

 dactyla, each wing is composed of six plumes. One of the 

 prettiest, also the commonest, is the white plumed Pterophorus 

 pentadactylus. This species is snowy white, and, as it flies 

 along in the evening, looks like a snowflake borne by the 

 wind. 



The beautiful and extensive division of the Tortrices 

 comes next in order. These insects are called Tortrices or 

 Twisters from the habits of the larvae in twisting or puckering 

 up the leaves of the various plants on which they feed and 

 living within the shelter thus made. The caterpillar is 

 usually naked, slender, with sixteen legs, and is very active, 

 running with great rapidity either backwards or forwards. 

 Some few species reside within the pulpy substances of fruits, 

 as plums, apples, &c. The Apple Moth, Carpocapsa pomonana, 

 is a very beautiful creature, but is seldom seen in the moth 

 state. The larva, however, is well known to both apple 

 growers and apple eaters, and is the maggot found inside 

 apples, causing them to drop from the trees before they are 

 ripe. 



The Tinece comprises a vast assemblage of species, nearly 

 all of very small dimensions. Some of the most destructive 

 of British insects belong to this group, especially the various 

 species of Clothes Moths usually found inside our houses, 

 making havoc among clothes, wool, fur and feathers. The 

 larvae of Solenobia inconspicuella forms curious cone-shaped 

 cases from the lichen on which it feeds. The male imago is an 

 active ample-winged little fellow, but the female never acquires 

 wings and never leaves the case in which she has fed up. 



