ALBERT

Description: Records of cave-dwelling Lepidoptera are scarce in comparison with those in other orders of Insects, e.g., Coleoptera, of which even a whole subfamily (Silphidae, Bathysciinae) is in a most remarkable way adapted to this peculiar habitat. In the group of the so-called Microlepidoptera we could find examples of some eight species only, belonging to different families.\nApparently none of them is a true cave-dweller, i. e., a permanent resident of caves and really adapted to life in total darkness.\nCrypsithyris spelaea Meyrick, 1908 (Tinaeidae) only has been regarded as an exception. This species has been described from a large cave in Moulmein, Burma, and originally was reported as "being practically bleached or colourless", but with normally developed eyes and wings (Meyrick, 1908, p. 399). Later on better material has been collected at the same locality, and this time the moth appeared to be not quite colourless (Meyrick, 1916, pp. 602-603). It remains uncertain, therefore, whether there is question of any adaptation to cave-life and whether this species can be regarded as an "obligate cavernicole,, insect, the more so as larvae of closely allied species of this genus have been found living in the open, in portable cases on lichens covering rocks.\nFurthermore we could find reference to three species of the genus Tinaea: T. antricola Meyr., 1924, and T. pyrosoma Meyr., 1924, both from Siju Caves, Assam, and T. palaechrysis Meyr., 1929, from Batu Caves, Selangor (Malaya). Of the latter was said that it "belongs to the typically unicolorous yellow group, but has probably acquired fuscous colouring as an adaptation to cave life; it may therefore be a true cave-dweller, possibly restricted to these particular caves" (Meyrick, 1929, p. 375). Afterwards, however, Dam-

Description: When revising the genera of Indo-Australian and Papuan Tortricidae (1939) the author was very much in doubt as to the systematic position of the genus Diactenis Meyrick, 1907, referred before to the Tortricidae.\nIt did not fit in that family, neither could it be successfully transferred to any other Tortricoid family known. Through lack of further data the author decided at last to transfer Diactenis to the family Chlidanotidae; the necessity of its removal from the Tortricidae being only too evident. This decision, however, was not very happy, as Diactenis was neither at its proper place in the Chlidanotidae. In the same year (1939) the late T. Bainbrigge Fletcher suggested to the author (in litt.) to erect for Diactenis a new family. Although this seemed a reasonable solution, we esteemed such an action to be premature, our information on the possible congeners of Diactenis being insufficient at that time. Instead, however temporarily, Diactenis was transferred back to the Tortricidae; but at the same time attention was drawn to the close correlation of that genus with two others (1941).\nSoon afterwards still more new forms of the Diactenis relationship continued coming to our notice, and the conception of this new family began to take shape.\nIt materialized after our study of the excellent collection of Microlepidoptera, brought together by our lamented friend, the late Dr. L. J. Toxopeus, during the Third Archbold Expedition to New Guinea. The results of this study will be published soon.\nMeanwhile we are satisfied that the information collected during these twelve years is entirely sufficient for carrying into effect the so long

Description: COPROMORPHIDAE\nMeyrick, 1905, Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. 16, p. 606.\nThis small family represents a natural group with clearly marked characters, and is easy of descrimination. It inhabits tropical regions of Asia and extends through the Papuan region over the whole Pacific. The last mentioned region might be the country of origin of this group, as genera with peculiar and possibly archaic characters have been recorded from the Pacific Islands; some of those species are distinguished by an exceptionally large size.\nOne of the interesting points with regard to the family is its possible place in the system. The long-ciliate or pectinate antennae, the neuration, and the complicated genital apparatus of the male seem to indicate an affinity with the Tineoidea. The general facies, however, is divergent to some extent, while the presence of a cubital pecten on the hind wings fundamentally discriminates this family from all the Tineoidea sensu stricto. When describing the family, Meyrick suggested that the cubital pecten might point towards an affinity with the Tortricoidea ; this relation, however, is not supported by any other characters. He further surmised that the Copromorphidae would be nearest allied to the Xyloryctidae ; in my opinion this surmise is devoid of any ground. Later Meyrick tried to combine with the Copromorphidae two other groups of "Tineina" that also are in possession of a cubital pecten, viz., the family Orneodidae, and the genus Hypertropha Meyr. The relation of the former with the Copromorphidae, however, is problematic, and deserves further proofs, while Hypertropha has in my opinion nothing in common with the family concerned, except for the

Description: OLETHREUTINAE\n(Eucosmidae auct., Eucosminae auct.) Introduction The study of the South Asiatic representatives of the subfamily Olethreutinae of the Tortricidae is difficult on account of various reasons. Our basic knowledge of this group of insects originates from the knowledge of the Palaearctic fauna; unfortunately the taxonomy, and especially the nomenclature of the European Olethreutinae has for a long time been in a deplorable state of confusion and only recent pioneer work along modern lines, chiefly by Obraztsov, leads to some order. Unavoidably this confusion throws a shadow upon the study of the Olethreutinae from other regions than the Palaearctis.\nSince genital characters are of cardinal importance for the classification of the genera and species of the present group, it is clear that a fundamental revision is necessary, because nobody has ever bothered about these characters before, at least with regard to the South Asiatic fauna. When describing species from that region classic authors, as e.g., Snellen, usually chose a convenient generic name, familiar to the students of the Palaearctic fauna, to attribute them to ; Meyrick, as conveniently, merged many species in one of some four of his enormous genera.\nMany species of Olethreutinae are ornated with intricate markings that are very difficult to describe in a terse diagnose, as was the habit with those older authors; these descriptions are still more difficult to read! Other species are uniform to such an extent that their identification is impossible without the use of genital characters. Furthermore, Meyrick