EVERQEsris] PYRAUSTIDAE 



Kent to Gloucester and Norfolk, local ; C. and S. Europe, N. 

 Asia ; 7. Larva pale yellow ; dorsal line darker ; lateral pale 

 purple ; spots on lateral line black ; head black : on seeds of 

 Sinnpis ; 8. 



25. Mesoqhapue, lib. 



Antennae §. Labial palpi porreoted, second joint with dense 

 projecting scales attenuated to a point forwards, terminal con- 

 cealed. Maxillary palpi triangularly dilated with loose spread- 

 ing scales. Tibial outer spurs \. 



With the single European species (correlated with the pre- 

 ceding genus) one or two African forms are doubtfully con- 

 generic. 



1. M. forficalis, L. 25-29 mm. Forewings wiutisa-ochreous, 

 disc and apex sometimes tinged with yellowish-brown ; lines 

 line, dark brown, very oblicpiely curved, indented beneath costa, 

 first very indistinct towards costa ; two small transversely 

 placed discal spots outlined with dark fuscous, lower larger ; a 

 dark fuscous oblique apical streak ; margins of subterminal line 

 obscurely brownish. Hindwings ochrcous- whitish ; a grey 

 posterior lino. 



Britain to Ross, Ireland, common in gardens ; C. Europe, 

 \V( '. Asia to N. Persia ; 5-8. Larva yellowish-green ; dorsal 

 and lateral lines darker green ; head yellowish : on Brasdca, 

 Hitphanus, etc. ; 6, 7, 9, 1 0. 



5. PYRALIDIDAE. 



Ocelli and maxillary palpi usually developed. Forewings : 

 lb usually shortly furcate, 4 and 5 closely approximated or 

 often stalked, 7 out of 9. Hindwings without defined pecten 

 of hairs on lower margin of cell, 4 and 5 closely approximated 

 or stalked, 7 out of 6 near origin, free or sometimes anastomosing 

 with 8. 



A family of moderate extent, fairly numerous within the 

 tropics, but rather poorly represented elsewhere, absent from 

 New Zealand. Imago with forewings elongate-triangular, costa 

 often somewhat sinuate. The natural flight is towards evening, 

 or sometimes in the sunshine. 



Ovum more or less oval, surface granulated. Larva rather 

 slender, with few hairs ; feeding usually on dry or decaying 

 vegetable substances. Pupa in a cocoon above ground. 



The phylogeny of the few British genera is simple, the first 

 three being all correlative developments of Synaphe. 



