AEGERIIDAE. General Topics. By B. Zttkowsky. 
1215 
Family: Aegeriidae. 
The Aegeriidae are a well defined family apparently allied to the Cossidae, since they have the same 
larval habits. But this is also the only link connecting them with the wood-borers, for the wings and neuration 
of the Aegeriidae are quite differently shaped from those of the Cossidae. At any rate it is certain that the family 
has originated from an old tribe, which is jmoved by its slight variation and, above all, by its rather equable 
distribution over the various zones. They are generally assumed to have developed from the Tineidae; but this 
development must be supposed to have been far extending, as the Tineidae are primitive, nocturnal insects, 
whereas the Aegeriidae are throughout insects loving the sun and flowers and very much inclined to mimicry. 
Forbes presumes them to be closely allied to the Yponomeutidae , while in Packard's opinion they originate 
directly from the Thyrididae. That is why they are also ranged among the Microlepidoptera in all the latest 
treatises, but future research must decide whether this is quite correct. 
The general habitus is almost invariably the same. Small to medium-sized species, the greater part 
at any rate rather small, most of them being rarely encountered; some of the species, however, may occasionally 
do much harm. Then’ rareness is not only due to the difficulty of discovering them, but also to their enormous 
resemblance to Hymenoptera, by which they are most excellently protected against persecution. The German 
name of “Glasfliigler” (clearwings) distinctly shows that most of the species have narrow, elegant and hyaline 
wings. Some, of course, have the forewings entirely or partly scaled, but few also the liindwings; but even in 
these cases there are some hyaline places to be noticed. In addition to this resemblance to wasps or bees, 
the black ground of the abdomen is also frequently striped yellow or orange, in any case vividly striped; in 
some species there is even yet a sham sting, as in the Alcathoe- species. Owing to their frequently long legs and 
their strikingly hymenopterous flight they are only to be discovered by expert collectors from among the crowds 
of insects visiting blossoms. Only the persevering collector who has much practice in discovering and capturing 
these insects which are often very shy besides, becomes aware that the majority of the Aegeriidae are not at 
all so very rare, especially if one examines their regular feeding-places, and a more thorough experience will 
also be rewarded with better success. Species which, as a rule, are but rarely found and in single specimens, 
can mostly be obtained in greater numbers by breeding, as soon as the food-plant of the larva has been found. 
It is generally easy to obtain pupae from the adult or almost adult larvae; according to the circumstances of 
the habitats, the insects which always live an endophagous life must be accomodated if possible according to 
their natural conditions, those occurring in branches and trunks of higher trees for instance Sphecia, Aegeria, 
Paranthrene, many SynantJiedon etc. must be kept dry, others again such as Dipsosphecia, Chamaesphecia , Bem- 
becia, certain Melittia living in roots or the parts of plants growing above them, must accordingly be kept damp, 
if possible together with the whole root-stock; many prefer carcinoid places or galls produced by Hymenoptera. 
The larvae, like all the insect larvae living in retreats or in the dark, are bone-coloured or whitish, only 
the intensely chitinized mandibles and the head are darker, — from brown to black; the dorsal receptacle often 
shines through the thin, not very bristly or sometimes quite smooth skin, the three pairs of pectoral legs are 
well developed, but above all the false feet and anal legs by which they can immediately be distinguished from 
the larvae of capricorn beetles frequently living at the same time in similar places. Most of the species have 
a larval stage of one year only, some of them of two or even three years. When they are small they penetrate 
into injured parts of the attacked plant and, in their first stage, bore irregular passages below the bark, proceeding 
as far as the the inner bark. After hibernating many living in colder regions go deeper into the wood. Some 
few prefer dry, withered wood, most of them however like fresh wood. The passage of the adult larva is invariably 
circular, whilst the capricorn beetles according to their shape leave almost oval passages and loopholes. When 
the time of pupation sets in, all the Aegeriid larvae remaining in the passages bore themselves as far as the 
