222 
PSYCHIDEA. By Dr. E. Wehrli. 
retiella. E. retiella Newm. (Vol. 2, p. 366, pi. 55 h). This has been recorded by Meder from Husum, north 
Germany and by Kloker from Denmark, by Trautmann from Flensburg, in S. Sweden. It also occurs in 
N. France flying on forest meadows at the beginning of June and towards 6 p. m. in the evening. 
22. Genus: Psychidoa Rmb. 
bombycella. P. bombycella Schifj. (Vol. 2, p. 366, pi. 55 h). This species flies in May, June and July according 
to the altitude and is found towards the evening on meadows and damp fields. In the mountains it occurs 
up to a fair altitude and Vorbrodt records having taken it at 1400 m altitude on the Mont C’hemin and 
Mayen de Sion in the Valais. Dannehl mentions having captured it in a smaller, darker, high alpine form, 
which he incorrectly denominates as rotundella Brel., at Sulden in the S. Tyrol at an altitude of 2400 m. He 
says it is quite common there and he discovered the casings up to 2900 m in the Ortler and Presanella region. 
The species varies considerably in size, wing contour, colouration and markings and especially in moun- 
rotundaria. tainous territory it is inclined to form local races. For instance — rotundaria Brd. (Vol. 2, p. 366) may be 
held to be such a race. It is reported from the lake of Geneva above Lausanne, but is certainly only found 
in the Valais, La Forclaz and Gietroz. It is distinguishable by the richer ochreous colour (blond roux), the 
absence of the reticulation, somewhat smaller size, shorter more rounded forewings, paler head and apparently 
tatricolella. shorter antennae than the name type form. — tatricolella Niel. (15 a [<J cotype]) denominates a form that Nie- 
siolowski caught on the Hohen Tatra in the valley of the 5 polish lakes at an altitude of 1700 m. It is of 
normal size, has finely reticulate markings on upper and undersides including the fringes and is nicely grey without 
the ochreous tone of typical bombycella. Apex of forewings is not rounded off. The casings were found hidden 
deep down in the grass; the moths also came to light at night, otherwise however the flight was at 4—6 p.m. 
According to Dannehl the moths from higher altitudes are smaller with shorter wings and of deeper colour. 
Ground colour is more or less dark grey-yellow and usually the reticulate markings are present. Such forms 
are not identical with the deep yellow ochreous rotundella which is devoid of reticulate markings. These small 
dark dusky specimens are also found on damp hayfields of the plains, such as are to be found around Neu- 
dorf, below Basle and in the moist fields on the banks of the Rhine. These specimens seem to prove that 
lacteella. these forms occur in varying proportion in any of the colonies. — Dannehl gives the name lacteella to an 
individual variety, that is small, not reticulated, milky white and glossily hyaline. This was captured at 
Penegal, S. Tyrol and on the Saualp in Carinthia. It is probably a starvation form. 
helvetica. P. helvetica Trautm. (15 b type]). Discovered by the author east of Locarno, Tessin, in a shady 
high alpine forest. It is nearest to P. proxima Led. (Vol. 2, p. 366, pi. 55 h). Like same it has in the B sex, 
dark black-brown colouration of all wings with the grey predominant. In proxima the coppery brown tone 
is more pronounced. It is less densely scaled than the latter, has shorter antennae, pale yellow head and 
abdominal hairs, somewhat paler yellow glossy fringes and smaller size 7.5 mm forewings: 9—10 mm; wing 
expanse 16 mm; 19.5 mm according to Brit and. The specimen in my collection, which so far is unique, 
gives one the impression of being a different species from proxima, as well as of bombycella, but it is cer¬ 
tainly not, as Rebel seems to assume, a pectinella form; it can easily be differentiated from same, as under 
the microscope, the denser scaling and wider scapulae are clearly apparent. Also the sac, which is in exist¬ 
ence, is smaller than that of bombycella , more irregularly decorated with coarser projecting grass stalks. As 
Traittmann records, it w r as found deep down in a tuft of grass at an angle of 45° with the free end pointing 
retifereUa. upwards. The imago emerged at the end of June at 5 p.m. The $ and larva are unknown. — retiferella 
Wrli. (15 b [J type]). This interesting form would seem to be a local race which is smaller than helvetica, 
forewings 7—7.5 mm. I have 16 fairly identical specimens, agreeing in regard to size, wing contour from 
the Tessin, from Rovio, 500 m, Maroggia 280 m., also from the Grisons, Lostallo, 426 m. It is somewhat 
paler in colour, more definitely grey hindwings and in contrast to the name type form, it has in fresh spe¬ 
cimens a very distinct, dark grey-brown reticulate pattern with pale yellow-grey interstices, wdiich however 
are generally absent on hindwings. Besides somewhat longer antennae, of abt. % length of costa, it has 
wider forewings, which are rounder at apex. Especially on hindwings the scaling is less dense. According 
to the width and coordination of the covering scales, this form also has no connection with pectinella. $, 
early stages and sacs are unknown and it will only be after further knowledge has been gained regarding 
the biology of this race and more specimens have been discovered, that one will be able to form a clearer 
impression of the relationship to helvetica, as well as bombycella and of these to one another. Possibly all 
belong to one and the same group of forms. 
apistella. P* apistella Bbl. (15 b) is described as being larger than helvetica Trautm. and proxima Led. (Vol. 2, 
p. 366, pi. 55 h), wing expanse 21 mm as against 18 mm in proxima and 16 mm in helvetica. The wings are 
wider and more rounded at apex, pectinations of antennae somewhat longer, colouration of wings deeper 
black-brown, instead of the smoky black of proxima. Veins like the latter, apistella was discovered on Monte- 
gibbio, Modane, Italy, later also found by Rebel at Bologna and in Liguria, is represented in my collection 
by 2 exactly similar specimens (Coll. Trautmann), the one labelled “Italia centr.” and the other “Apen¬ 
nines, Bologna, 14. June 1862”, both classified by Trautmann as proxima. These specimens have a wing 
expanse of 19 mm, barely 20 mm; they are therefore not larger than proxima from the Altai, of which Brit and 
