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New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)

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Title: New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera)

Author: G. V. Hudson


        
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW ZEALAND MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES (MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA) ***

Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). A carat
      character is used to denote superscription: a single character
      following the carat is superscripted (example: 27^9). The
      conventional male and female symbols are indicated by [M] and [F].

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       *       *       *       *       *

NEW ZEALAND

MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES.

  "The rearing of larvæ, . . . when joined with the entomological
  collection, adds immense interest to Saturday afternoon rambles, and
  forms an admirable introduction to the study of physiology."




  "When simple curiosity passes into the love of knowledge as such, and the
  gratification of the æsthetic sense of the beauty of completeness and
  accuracy seems more desirable than the easy indolence of ignorance; when
  the finding out of the causes of things becomes a source of joy, and he
  is counted happy who is successful in the search; common knowledge of
  Nature passes into what our forefathers called Natural History, from
  whence there is but a step to that which used to be termed Natural
  Philosophy, and now passes by the name of Physical Science."




  "It is interesting to contemplate a tangled bank, clothed with many
  plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various
  insects flitting about, and with worms crawling through the damp earth,
  and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so different
  from each other, and dependent upon each other in so complex a manner,
  have all been produced by laws acting around us. These laws, taken in the
  largest sense, being Growth with Reproduction; Inheritance which is
  almost implied by reproduction; Variability from the indirect and direct
  action of the conditions of life, and from use and disuse: a Ratio of
  Increase so high as to lead to a Struggle for Life, and as a consequence
  to Natural Selection, entailing Divergence of Character and the
  Extinction of less-improved forms. Thus, from the war of Nature, from
  famine and death, the most exalted object which we are capable of
  conceiving, namely, the production of the higher animals, directly
  follows. There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several
  powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms
  or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according
  to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms
  most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved."






NEW ZEALAND

MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES

(MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA).


BY

G. V. HUDSON, F.E.S.,

_Author of 'An Elementary Manual of New Zealand Entomology.'_


WITH 13 PLATES.


LONDON:

WEST, NEWMAN & Co., 54, HATTON GARDEN, E.C.

1898.

[Illustration]




PREFACE.


The present work is intended as a guide to those who desire to collect or
study our native _Lepidoptera_, and also as a book of reference to the
general reader.

In the Introduction I have first given an outline of the Transformations
and Structure of the _Lepidoptera_. Then a brief sketch of the Darwinian
theories respecting the origin of species and their special application to
various phenomena exhibited by moths and butterflies, as well as a short
outline of the general principles which have been followed in framing
modern classifications of the order. Next follow five chapters on the
various groups dealt with.

With a few exceptions this work only treats of what are, for the sake of
convenience, termed the _Macro-Lepidoptera_. A similar work on the numerous
and interesting species of _Micro-Lepidoptera_ found in New Zealand may at
some future time be undertaken.

In conclusion, I have to discharge the pleasurable duty of thanking the
numerous entomologists who have so liberally assisted me in the production
of this work. First, and especially, my thanks are due to Mr. Meyrick,
without whose masterly papers and 'Handbook' but little could have been
accomplished. Next, to Mr. R. W. Fereday, who very kindly allowed me to
figure many species of which he alone possesses specimens--in itself an
invaluable assistance. I have also to express my thanks to Messrs. E. F.
Hawthorne, H. P. Hanify, R. I. Kingsley, A. Norris, A. Philpott, and others
for the loan of specimens, and for much valuable information regarding the
localities and habits of rare or local species. Lastly, I have to
acknowledge the aid so willingly given by my lamented friend, the late Mr.
A. S. Olliff, of Sydney.

  KARORI, WELLINGTON,
      NEW ZEALAND,
          1897.




CONTENTS.


                                                          PAGE

  INTRODUCTION                                              ix

  THE CARADRININA                                            1

  THE NOTODONTINA                                           38

  THE PAPILIONINA                                          101

  THE PSYCHINA                                             122

  THE MICROPTERYGINA (PART ONLY)                           127

  APPENDIX (DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF PLANTS)                    137

  GENERAL INDEX                                            141

  SPECIAL INDEX                                            142

  PLATES AND EXPLANATIONS                                  145




{ix}INTRODUCTION.


The order _Lepidoptera_, which includes all those insects commonly known as
Moths and Butterflies, is chiefly distinguished by its members possessing
four wings clothed with numerous minute scales, the term _Lepidoptera_
being derived from the two Greek words, [Greek: lepis], a scale, and
[Greek: pteron], a wing. The mouth of these insects is suctorial, the
maxillæ forming a spiral proboscis which is coiled up between the large
labial palpi when not in use (see Plate I., figs. 5 and 6). The other oral
organs are rudimentary. To acquire this form these insects pass through
three very distinct stages, viz., the Egg, the Larva, and the Pupa.


I.--METAMORPHOSIS.

THE EGG.

The eggs of _Lepidoptera_ are generally somewhat globular, much flattened
above and beneath. Some are very elaborately sculptured, whilst others are
quite smooth. They are usually white or yellowish, but always change much
in colour as the contained embryo develops.


THE LARVA.

The larvæ of moths and butterflies are popularly known as caterpillars.
They always consist of thirteen segments, segment number one being the
head. The head is furnished with several simple eyes (Plate I., fig. 2,
AA), a pair of very short antennæ (BB), and a very powerful masticatory
mouth. The mouth consists of the following organs: The labrum, or upper lip
(1); a pair of mandibles, or upper jaws, working like scissor-blades (2,2);
two maxillæ, or lower jaws (3,3), each carrying a jointed organ termed the
maxillary palpus; and the labium, or lower lip (4); which bears another
pair of minute jointed appendages--the labial palpi.

Segments 2, 3, and 4, which answer to the thorax of the perfect insect, are
each furnished with a pair of legs. They consist of the six following
joints (fig. 2): (_a_) coxa, (_b_) trochanter, (_c_) femur, (_d_) tibia,
(_e_) tarsus, and (_f_) claw. These legs correspond to those of the perfect
insect. The remaining nine segments of the body constitute the abdomen.
Usually segments 7 to 9 and 13, each have a pair of fleshy pads, which are
termed prolegs and are furnished on their edges with a row of minute
hooklets (see Plate I., fig. 14, proleg highly magnified). It is these
hooklets which enable caterpillars to hold on by means of their prolegs
with such great tenacity. The number of the prolegs varies considerably in
different groups and families.

The _spiracles_, or orifices of the air-tubes, are situated on each side of
the larva just above the legs. They are usually present on segments 2 and 5
to 12, but vary {x}considerably in different groups and families. The larva
is provided with a very complete digestive system, which consists of the
following organs (see Plate I., fig. 9): A, the oesophagus; D, the
ventriculus; F, the clavate intestine; E, the ilium; H, the colon; K, the
biliary vessels; and O, the spinning vessels. These last open at a small
orifice in the labium termed the spinneret (fig. 2, 5). They supply the
silken threads which are employed by most larvæ in constructing their
cocoons, and which also serve in cases of danger as a rapid means of
retreat. Many larvæ, which live on shrubs and trees, suddenly lower
themselves to the ground by means of one of these silken threads, and thus
often escape being devoured by insectivorous animals.

The entire growth of the insect is accomplished during the larval
condition, the increase in size being frequently very rapid. Owing to this
circumstance larvæ are often compelled to shed their skin, and in many
species a very considerable alteration both in the shape and colour takes
place at each moult, or ecdysis as it is sometimes termed.


THE PUPA.

The pupa of a Lepidopterous insect is completely encased in a chitinous
envelope. With the exception of a slight twirling of the abdominal segments
it is incapable of any motion. In the pupa of _Micropteryx_ the mandibles
and labial palpi are said to be functionally active, but this is a very
exceptional though extremely interesting case. In conjunction with other
evidence it would appear to indicate that the _Lepidoptera_ originated from
insects with active pupæ. The number of free or movable segments of pupæ
varies considerably in different groups and genera, and by some modern
authors it is regarded as a character of much importance in the framing of
their classifications. The various organs of the perfect insect are
distinctly marked out on the otherwise uniform integument of the pupa. In
some groups, notably the _Micropterygina_, these organs are much more
distinctly indicated than in others.


II.--ANATOMY.

THE PERFECT INSECT OR IMAGO.

In common with all other members of the class, the body of a Lepidopterous
insect consists of three main divisions: (1) the head, (2) the thorax, and
(3) the abdomen.


THE HEAD.

The front of the head is termed the _face_, the top the _crown_, the sides
are nearly entirely occupied by the compound eyes (Plate I., fig. 11, AA),
and the lower surface by the organs of the mouth.

The _Eyes_ consist of a very large number of simple lenses arranged in the
form of two hemispheres, one on each side of the head. The _ocelli_, or
simple eyes, are situated on the crown, and are usually almost entirely
covered by scales.

The _Antennæ_ are two jointed appendages attached to the top of the head
above the eyes. They vary very much in structure. The following are the
terms used in describing the different forms of antennæ in the
_Lepidoptera_:--

1. _Pectinated_, when the joints have long processes like the teeth of a
comb. If these are on one side only, the antennæ are _unipectinated_; if on
both sides, _bipectinated_. (Plate I., fig. 20, bipectinated antenna of
_Nyctemera annulata_.)

2. _Dentate_, when the joints are armed with slight pointed spines.

{xi}3. _Serrate_, when the joints have sharp projections like the teeth of
a saw. (Fig. 18, antenna of _Melanchra composita_.)

4. _Filiform_, when the whole antenna is simple or thread-like. (Fig. 19,
antenna of _Epirranthis alectoraria_.)

The clothing of the antennæ also varies, and is distinguished as under:--

1. _Ciliated_, when clothed with one or two series of short, fine hairs.

2. _Fasciculate-ciliated_, when the hairs are collected into tufts. (Fig.
17, antenna of _Chloroclystis plinthina_.)

3. _Pubescent_, when the antennæ are clothed with uniform short hairs.
(Fig. 19.)

The functions of the antennæ are still a matter of dispute amongst
entomologists. The majority of the older naturalists regarded them as
organs of hearing. The antennæ are almost always more fully developed in
the male than in the female. From this circumstance many modern
entomologists consider that one of their functions is to enable the former
to find the latter.

The organs of the mouth are thus distinguished:--

1. The _Labrum_, or upper lip (Plate I., fig. 11, _l_), a minute
rudimentary plate situated in front immediately above the proboscis.

2. The _Mandibles_, or upper jaws (m.m), two minute sickle-shaped organs
situated just below the labrum, also rudimentary.

3. The _Proboscis_, or _Haustellum_[1] (c), a tubular extensible organ
formed of the two maxillæ, or lower jaws, which have become greatly
elongated, semi-tubular, and closely pressed together at the edges, but
separable at the will of the insect--a structure which enables the organ to
be easily cleansed when necessary, and is extremely interesting as
indicating so clearly the true development of the proboscis from the
maxillæ.

The _Maxillary palpi_ (p.p) are two jointed organs attached to the base of
the proboscis and very frequently rudimentary, but fully developed amongst
certain of the _Micro-Lepidoptera_.

The _Labium_, or lower lip, is situated below the proboscis and carries the
_Labial palpi_ (figs. 5 and 6), two large jointed organs which are very
conspicuous in nearly all the species and often quite conceal the maxillary
palpi. They are usually regarded as organs of touch, but their true
function does not seem to be properly understood. In the _Lepidoptera_ they
appear to protect the proboscis, which, when out of use, is always coiled
up in a spiral between them. The labrum and mandibles can only be seen by
removing the large labial palpi.


THE THORAX

carries the organs of locomotion, which consist of two pairs of wings
attached to its sides, and three pairs of legs attached beneath, a pair
belonging to each of the three segments of which the thorax is composed. On
the front of the thorax there are two flap-like organs covered with scales,
termed the _patagia_.

The _Wings_ vary greatly in shape, but usually they are triangular. The
portion of the wing which joins on to the thorax is termed the _base_. The
front margin is called the _costa_, the outer margin the _termen_, and the
lower margin the _dorsum_, these being described as situated when the wing
is extended in flight. The angle between the costa and termen {xii}is
called the _apex_, and the angle between the termen and the dorsum the
_tornus_ (see Plate I., fig. 1). The termen and dorsum are edged with a
fringe of hair-like scales, termed the _cilia_. At the base of the
hind-wings is generally situated a stiff bristle, or several stiff hairs,
called the _frenulum_, the ends of which pass through a chitinous process
on the under side of the fore-wing near the dorsum. This process is termed
the _retinaculum_, and serves, in conjunction with the frenulum, to lock
the wings together during flight. In the female both these organs are often
very imperfectly developed, the frenulum consisting of several bristly
hairs, and the retinaculum of a group of stiff scales. In many of the
_Lepidoptera_ both frenulum and retinaculum are entirely wanting.

"In the _Micropterygina_, a membranous or spine-like process called the
_jugum_ rises from the dorsum of the fore-wing near the base and passes
under the hind-wing, which is thus held between the process and the
overlapping portion of the fore-wing."--(Meyrick.)

The veins of the wings are thus described by Mr. Meyrick:--

"The wings are traversed by a system of _Veins_--tubular structures which
serve at once as extensions of the tracheal system, and to form a stiff
framework for the support of the wing. In the normal type of _Lepidoptera_
the fore-wings possess three free veins towards the dorsum, termed 1_a_,
1_b_, and 1_c_; a central cell, out of which rise ten veins, numbered 2 to
11, the sides of the cell being known as the upper median, lower median,
and transverse veins respectively; and a free subcostal vein, numbered 12;
whilst the hind-wings differ from the fore-wings in having only six veins
rising from the central cell, numbered 2 to 7, so that the free subcostal
vein is numbered 8 (see Plate I., figs. 3 and 4, assumed type of neuration
of a Lepidopterous insect). In some forms a forked parting-vein traverses
the middle of the cell longitudinally, and a second parting-vein traverses
the upper portion, so as to form a secondary cell; but these are more
frequently absent or represented only by folds in the membrane. In a few
forms there is a tendency to the production of several false veins, termed
_pseudoneuria_, appearing as short branches from the subcostal vein of the
hind-wings to the costa; these are thickenings of the membrane, and are
commonly very irregular and variable, often uneven in thickness or
incomplete. Sometimes one of these near the base is better developed and
more permanent in character; it is then termed the _præcostal spur_ (see
Plate I., figs. 8^9 and 27^9). Modifications in the general arrangement of
the veins may arise through any of the following processes, viz.: (1)
_obsolescence_, when a vein loses its normal tubular structure, becoming
attenuated and reduced in substance, until it appears a mere fold of the
membrane (Plate II., fig. 60, vein 5 in hind-wings of _Selidosema_); (2)
_stalking_, when the two veins are fused together for a portion of their
length from their base, so as to appear to rise on a common stalk (Plate
II., fig. 34, veins 6 and 7 in hind-wing of _Hydriomena_); (3)
_coincidence_, when two veins are fused together for the whole of their
length, so that one appears entirely absent, an extreme form of stalking;
(4) _anastomosis_, when two veins rise separate, meet, and are fused
together for a certain distance, and then separate again (Plate II., fig.
23, veins 7 and 8 in the hind-wings of the [F] of _Tatosoma_); (5)
_concurrence_, when a vein rises separate, runs into another, and does not
separate again, an extreme form of anastomosis; (6) _connection_, when two
veins are connected by a short transverse bar passing from one to the
other, a special form of anastomosis, evolved from the ordinary form under
the influence of a tendency to lateral extension (Plate II., fig. 28, veins
7 and 8 in hind-wing of _Paradetis_). Vein 1_b_ in both wings is often
furcate at the base.

{xiii}"The type of veins in the _Micropterygina_ differs from that
described above in two essential particulars, viz.: (1) there may be three
additional veins in the fore-wings, rising out of vein 11 or 12; and (2)
the veins of the hind-wings are practically identical in number and
structure with those of the fore-wings, being thus much more numerous than
in the ordinary type. There is also often a system of cross-bars between
the veins near the base of the wing (Plate I., figs. 22 and 23, neuration
of _Hepialus_).

"The structure of the veins can be best observed on the under surface of
the wing, where they are more prominent. The student should begin by
completely denuding of scales a few wings of common species: the wing
should be cut off and laid on a moistened piece of glass, to which it will
adhere; the scales should then be removed, first from one surface and then
from the other, with a fine, moist camel's-hair brush--an operation
requiring a little patience and delicacy of touch; the veins will thus be
rendered conspicuous.[2] When, however, the student has familiarised
himself with the general subject, it will not be found necessary in
practice to resort to this process; most details will be easily observed
without denudation[3]; where this is not the case (as where the veins are
closely crowded or otherwise obscured), the scales can be removed with the
brush on the under surface in the locality of the difficulty only, without
cutting off the wing or otherwise damaging the specimen, which remains in
the collection available for all purposes as before; with proper practice,
even the smallest species are amenable to this treatment, which does not
require more skill than the actual setting of the specimen. Some workers
prefer to put a drop of benzine on the spot, which renders it temporarily
transparent; the effect is short-lived, as the benzine evaporates rapidly,
and the cilia (if long) are liable to be damaged by this method."

The _Legs_ consist of the following joints (see Plate I., fig. 21): (1)
_coxa_, (2) _trochanter_, (3) _femur_, (4) _tibia_, (5) _tarsus_, (6)
_claw_. The tarsus normally consists of five joints, but is more or less
aborted when the leg is not employed for walking. The spines (SS) on the
tibiæ of the several legs vary considerably in size and number. They are
often useful to the systematist for purposes of classification.


THE ABDOMEN

consists of nine segments, some of which are often fused together. It
contains the various internal organs, of which the most important are those
of Digestion and Reproduction. The _Digestive System_ (Plate I., fig. 10)
consists of the following organs: A, the _oesophagus_, or throat; C, the
_sucking stomach_; D, the _ventriculus_ or stomach; E, the _small
intestine_; G, the _cæcum_; H, the _colon_; K, the _biliary vessels_; N,
the _salivary vessels_. The function of the _sucking stomach_ is to exhaust
the air in the throat and proboscis, and thus to cause the ascent of the
fluids into the stomach when the insect is feeding.


III.--ORIGIN OF SPECIES.

The theory of the origin of species as propounded by Darwin may be thus
very briefly summarised:--

{xiv}VARIATION.--No two organisms are exactly alike; there is always some
variation from the parent form, in some cases very slight, in others
considerable. (For examples of variation see Plate VII., figs. 1 to 9,
varieties of _Hydriomena deltoidata_; Plate VIII., figs. 42 to 47,
varieties of _Epirranthis alectoraria_; Plate IX., figs. 6 to 14, varieties
of _Selidosema productata_; Plate X., figs. 13 to 23, varieties of _Azelina
gallaria_; Plate X., figs. 39 to 47, varieties of _Declana floccosa_.)

INHERITANCE.--Many of these variations are inherited--a fact demonstrated
by our domestic plants and animals, where man has selected and bred from
varieties suitable for his purposes, and has thus produced races in which
the variation is permanent. Many of the races of domestic animals differ as
much from one another as do some distinct species of wild animals.

STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE.--All animals and plants produce far more offspring
than can possibly survive, thus giving rise to the struggle for existence.
For example: The average number of eggs laid by a Lepidopterous insect is
certainly over 100, and in many species this number is greatly exceeded.
Assuming each female to lay 100 eggs, the progeny from a single pair would
amount, after six generations, to over six million individuals.

NATURAL SELECTION, or the SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.--In the struggle for
existence which necessarily results from such a great increase of
individuals, those variations which favoured the possessors would be
preserved, whilst those which did not, would be gradually exterminated.
This principle of the preservation of the favourable varieties in the
struggle for life is called Natural Selection, or the Survival of the
Fittest.

DIVERGENCE OF CHARACTER.--As there are so many different places and
conditions in the economy of nature which can be occupied by organic beings
differently constituted, individuals which diverged most from the original
type would be brought into less severe competition, than those which
diverged only in a slight degree. For instance, if we represent the
original form as A, occupying one place in the economy of nature; a second
form as B, occupying a somewhat similar place; a third form as C, occupying
a very different place to A although somewhat similar place to B, it is
obvious that B would enter into severe competition with both A and C,
whilst A and C might not trend to any great extent on one another's place
in the natural economy; hence B would be exterminated before either A or C.
In other words, natural selection continually tends to increase the slight
differences, which we call varieties, into the greater differences, which
we call species.



The following phenomena, which have long been observed by students of the
_Lepidoptera_, will serve as excellent examples of the operation of natural
selection:--

PROTECTIVE RESEMBLANCE.--This term is applied to those classes of form or
colour which enable an animal to so closely resemble its surroundings as to
escape the notice of its enemies. Numerous examples of protective
resemblance exist in the New Zealand moths and butterflies; in fact, it may
safely be asserted that nearly all the colouring we observe in these
insects has been acquired for protective purposes. The following species,
amongst many others which will be described hereafter, exhibit in a very
marked degree the phenomenon of protective resemblance: _Epirranthis
alectoraria_, _Selidosema dejectaria_, and _Drepanodes muriferata_ resemble
dead leaves; _Chloroclystis {xv}bilineolata_, _Tatosoma agrionata_, and
_Erana graminosa_ resemble, when at rest, patches of moss; _Selidosema
productata_ and _S. lupinata_ resemble the bark of trees; _Chloroclystis
lichenodes_, _Declana floccosa_, and _Elvia glaucata_ resemble variously
coloured lichens. It is almost unnecessary to point out that all those
variations, which tended to conceal the possessors from their enemies,
would be preserved in the struggle for existence, and that these numerous
and perfect instances of protective resemblance would inevitably result
from the operation of natural selection. The dark colouration of Alpine and
Arctic _Lepidoptera_, which enables them to rapidly absorb heat during the
short and fitful gleams of sunshine experienced on mountains or in high
latitudes, is also an instance of adaptation to conditions through the
influence of natural selection. This was first pointed out by Lord
Walsingham in 1885. The almost complete absence of white species in these
localities is a good example of the extinction of forms unfitted to their
surroundings.

CONTRAST COLOURS.--In this class of colouring the fore-wings only are
protectively coloured, the hind-wings being very conspicuous. Contrast
colouring is well exemplified by several of the insects included in the
genus _Notoreas_. The sudden exhibition of the hind-wings during flight
dazzles the eye of the pursuer. When the insect immediately afterwards
closes its wings and the fore-wings alone are visible, it is extremely
difficult to see. This form of protective colouring was also first drawn
attention to by Lord Walsingham. (See page 75.)

WARNING COLOURS.--Insects, which are unfit for food or nauseous, are not
protectively coloured, but on the contrary are rendered as conspicuous as
possible. This class of colouring is well illustrated by one of our
commonest moths, _Nyctemera annulata_ (Pl. IV., figs. 1 and 2). The
principle of warning colours was first discovered by Mr. A. R. Wallace, and
is graphically described in Professor Poulton's entertaining work, 'The
Colours of Animals.' The possession of nauseous qualities would be of
little value to an insect, unless it could be at once recognised by
insectivorous animals and avoided as food. If a nauseous insect were not
easily identified it would speedily be destroyed by what Professor Poulton
ingeniously terms "experimental tasting"; hence, through the process of
natural selection, all nauseous species have become very conspicuously
coloured. It may be remarked that warning colours are extremely rare
amongst the New Zealand species, and I am not aware of any other example
than that already given.

MIMICRY.--This term is applied to those remarkable cases where a harmless
or edible species imitates in form and colouring a highly armed or nauseous
species. No instances of this extremely interesting class of protection are
yet known amongst the New Zealand _Lepidoptera_, but a very perfect example
of mimicry exists between two common introduced species of _Hymenoptera_
and _Diptera_, the well-known honey-bee and the drone-fly. The superficial
resemblance between these two insects is very close. The bee, as every one
knows, is armed with a powerful sting, whilst the drone-fly is unarmed. In
this case it can be seen that if a harmless insect varied in the direction
of resembling a formidable or objectionable species it would be a decided
advantage to it, and such varieties would tend to be continually preserved
and improved, through the operation of natural selection. The subject of
mimicry has been alluded to here as it is not impossible that some
instances of it may yet be discovered in connection with our native
_Lepidoptera_.

{xvi}ORNAMENTAL COLOURING.--This class of colouring occurs in many species,
especially amongst the butterflies, and is not apparently connected in any
way with protection. Darwin supposes that it has arisen through the females
of each species always selecting the most beautiful males as mates, hence
these alone would leave progeny, and the females themselves would
afterwards become beautiful through the effects of inheritance. This
principle Darwin has termed Sexual Selection, and has discussed it in great
detail in his work on the 'Descent of Man.' The fact, that amongst birds
and butterflies the males are nearly always the most brilliantly coloured
and the most beautiful, together with an immense mass of other evidence,
tends, I think, to entirely support Darwin's theory, although it should be
mentioned that several eminent naturalists, including Mr. Wallace, do not
admit the principle of Sexual Selection.


IV.--CLASSIFICATION.

From a further consideration of the foregoing principles it will be seen
that all existing species are held to be descended by true generation from
pre-existing species, and that, consequently, all the relationships we
observe between species are explained by community of origin. The most
natural system of classification is, therefore, that which best reveals the
scheme of descent, or, as it is termed, the phylogeny, of the group of
organisms classified. To construct a perfect system of classification on
these principles a knowledge of not only all the existing species of
_Lepidoptera_ would be essential, but also of all the extinct species, and
it is needless to say that such knowledge is quite unattainable.
Nevertheless large numbers of species are now known from many parts of the
world, and a very extensive collection has recently been employed by Mr.
Meyrick in framing a classification of the _Lepidoptera_, which is, to the
best of my belief, the first constructed on strictly Darwinian principles.
Although adopting Mr. Meyrick's system in the present work I do not agree
unreservedly with all his conclusions; but I have not attempted to alter
his system in accordance with my own views, as I conceive that the
conclusions of a naturalist, who has only had the opportunity of studying a
restricted fauna, would necessarily be liable to considerable error.

The general principles on which Mr. Meyrick has founded his system are
practically those laid down by Darwin in his 'Origin of Species,' and may
be thus summarised:--

A. Resemblances between all organisms are explained by community of origin,
the amount of difference representing the amount of modification and
expressible in the classification as varieties, species, genera, families,
groups, orders, &c. The amount of difference does not _necessarily_ bear
any direct relation to time, many forms remaining almost stationary whilst
others are undergoing development.

B. By a consideration of the following laws the age of a division can be
approximately arrived at; that is to say, its position in the great
genealogical tree of the _Lepidoptera_ can be, to some extent,
determined:--

"(1) No new organ can be produced except as a modification of some
previously existing structure.

"(2) A lost organ cannot be regained.

"(3) A rudimentary organ is rarely redeveloped."--(Meyrick.)

{xvii}C. The greatest care is necessary to avoid being misled by adaptive
characters, _i.e._, characters which are very important to the welfare of
the species, and hence much modified through the agency of natural
selection. A familiar instance of superficial resemblance, due to the
presence of similar adaptive characters, may be observed in fishes and
whales, where two groups of animals with but little real relationship have,
through living under similar conditions, become extremely like each other
in external appearance. Other examples might be given amongst exotic
_Lepidoptera_. Thus, many noxious species are closely mimicked by harmless
forms which are often far removed from them in real affinity. These cases
of adaptive resemblances abound amongst all organisms, and have often
deceived experienced naturalists. It is in consequence of the illusive
nature of these external resemblances amongst different members of the
_Lepidoptera_, that the structure of the neuration of the wings is now
considered of such great importance as a character for purposes of
classification. The numerous modifications in the position of the veins and
their presence or absence in certain groups can, so far as we are able to
see, have had very little effect on the well-being of those insects
possessing such modifications. Hence it may fairly be assumed, that these
structures have been free from the influence of natural selection for a
very lengthened period. It is thus contended that the neuration of a
Lepidopterous insect probably reveals more plainly than any other character
its true relationship with other species.

The descent of all the _Lepidoptera_ from some ancient member of the
_Trichoptera_ (or caddis-flies) is thus proved, according to Mr. Meyrick:--

"From a consideration of the laws enunciated above, there can be no doubt
that the _Micropterygina_ are the ancestral group of the _Lepidoptera_,
from which all others have descended; this is sufficiently proved by the
existence of the four or more additional veins in the hind-wings of that
group, for these veins, if not originally present, could not have been
afterwards produced. Of the two families of that group, the
_Micropterygidæ_, which possess an additional vein (or veins) in the
fore-wings, and fully developed six-jointed maxillary palpi, must be more
primitive than the _Hepialidæ_. Now if the neuration of the whole of the
_Lepidoptera_ is compared with that of all other insects, it will be found
that in no instance is there any close resemblance, except in the case of
the _Micropterygidæ_; but the neuration of these so closely approaches that
of certain _Trichoptera_ (caddis-flies) as to be practically identical. The
conclusion is clear, that the _Lepidoptera_ are descended from the
_Trichoptera_, and that the _Micropterygidæ_ are the true connecting link.
If the other marked structural characters of the _Micropterygidæ_ are taken
into consideration, viz., the possession of the jugum, the large
development of the maxillary palpi as compared with the labial, and the
sometimes functionally active mandibles, they will be all found commonly in
the _Trichoptera_, affording additional confirmation. It may be added that
in one New Zealand species of _Micropterygidæ_ (_Palæomicra chalcophanes_)
vein _1b_ is basally trifurcate, a character frequent in the _Trichoptera_,
but not yet discovered in any other _Lepidopteron_. In most _Trichoptera_
the veins of the hindwings are much more numerous than those of the
fore-wings, in the _Micropterygina_ they are usually equal in number, in
other _Lepidoptera_ they are less numerous; in the course of descent there
has therefore been a greater progressive diminution in the number of veins
of the hind-wings as compared with those of the fore-wings, though these
also have diminished.

{xviii}"It is unnecessary to trace back the descent of the _Lepidoptera_
further; but it may be worth while to point out that we may assume as the
primitive type of Trichopterous neuration, a system of numerous
longitudinal veins gradually diverging from the base, mostly furcate
terminally, and connected by a series of irregularly placed cross-bars near
base, and another series beyond middle."

The following is Mr. Meyrick's method of arrangement, which has been
adopted in this book:--

"The natural order of arrangement, which is that of a much-branched tree,
cannot be adequately expressed by a simple linear succession, such as is
alone practicable in a book. It is, however, possible to devise a linear
succession which shall be consistent with the natural genealogical order,
if some additional explanation can be given. The method here adopted is as
follows:--

[Illustration]

"Suppose the accompanying diagram represents a portion of the genealogical
tree; then the order will begin at M and descend to K, recommence at L and
descend to K, and thence to G, recommence at H and descend to G, and thence
to B, recommence at F and descend to D, recommence at E and descend to D
and thence to B, recommence at C and descend to B and thence to A, and so
on. Thus the order begins with the most recently developed forms and
descends gradually to the earliest or most ancestral, which are the last in
the book. To understand the order in practice, it may be assumed that each
genus is descended from that which immediately follows it in the book,
unless its actual descent is expressly stated otherwise; such statement
will, of course, require to be made before every recommencement of a fresh
branch. This system has been adhered to throughout, and after a little use
will not be found unintelligible. If adopted in the arrangement of a
collection in the cabinet, it would be a good plan to indicate the
recommencement of a fresh branch by a special mark, such as a red bar drawn
above the first (or highest) species."

PHYLOGENY OF LEPIDOPTERA. (After Meyrick.)

                       Notodontina          Papilionina
                            |                     |
  Caradrinina         Lasiocampina           Pyralidina
       |                    |                     |
       +--------------------+---------------------+
                            |
                        Psychina      Tortricina
                             |              |
                             +-------+------+
                                     |
                                  Tineina
                                     |
                              Micropterygina


{xix}V.--GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

The details of geographical distribution are given under the headings of
the respective species, so far as I have been able to ascertain them; but
our knowledge in this direction is necessarily limited, and I have found
much difficulty in obtaining reliable information, on account of the
obstacles which exist in regard to the correct identification of species in
other countries.

The distribution of the species within New Zealand is also very imperfectly
known at present, owing to the paucity of collectors and observers,
particularly in the extreme north of New Zealand, and on the west coast of
the South Island. In the latter locality no doubt many interesting species
remain to be discovered, especially amongst the mountain ranges.



In employing the book for identifications, the reader is recommended to
first refer to the Plates and see if he can find anything at all resembling
the species he has, and then to refer to the description for verification.
In dealing with variable forms, it is always well to remember that the
_shape_ of markings is generally far more constant than their intensity, or
even their colour.

The purely descriptive portions of the work have been made as brief as
possible, and characters, of special importance for the identification of
species, are printed in italics. Those who desire to consult more detailed
descriptions may readily do so by referring to Mr. Meyrick's papers, in the
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute and elsewhere. References to such
papers are invariably given under the synonomy of each species which has
been described by Mr. Meyrick.

It should be mentioned that the figures and descriptions in this work have
been prepared from nature, quite separately, and no attempt has been made
to reconcile the figure with the description. This course has been followed
so that any character, which may have been accidentally omitted from the
figure, will not necessarily be wanting in the description.

The figures of neuration (Plates I. and II.) have all been made from fully
denuded specimens examined under the microscope. They are in nearly every
instance considerably enlarged. Each drawing has afterwards been compared
with Mr. Meyrick's description, and if found to differ, a second
examination of the wings has been made with a view to a reconciliation of
results. Any important differences observed between Mr. Meyrick's
descriptions and my final results are in every case specially mentioned.




{1}NEW ZEALAND

MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA.




I.--THE CARADRININA.


The _Caradrinina_ may be distinguished by the following characters:--

  "The maxillary palpi are obsolete, the fore-wings have vein _1b_ simple
  or hardly furcate, _1c_ absent, and 5 approximated to 4 towards base. The
  hind-wings are furnished with a frenulum, vein _1c_ is absent, and 8 is
  connected or anastomosing with cell." (See Plate II., figs. 1 to 12 and
  14 to 18.)

  "Imago with the fore-wings more or less elongate-triangular, termen not
  very oblique; hind-wings broad-ovate.

  "Larva sometimes very hairy, usually with 10 prolegs, those on segments 7
  and 8 sometimes absent. (Plate III., figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15 and 16.)
  Pupa with segments 9 to 11 free; not protruded from cocoon in
  emergence."--(Meyrick.)

So far as New Zealand is concerned, the _Caradrinina_ may be said to
comprise that group of the Lepidoptera formerly known as the _Noctuina_,
with the addition of the family _Arctiadæ_. Its members are chiefly
nocturnal fliers; the body is usually stout, the forewings are narrow, and
(except in the _Arctiadæ_) mostly dull-coloured, with three very
characteristic spots. 1. The orbicular stigma, a round spot situated near
the middle of the wing; 2. The claviform stigma usually somewhat
club-shaped and situated immediately below the orbicular; and 3. The
reniform stigma, a kidney-shaped marking situated beyond the orbicular. The
claviform is very frequently absent, and the orbicular less frequently so,
but the reniform is an almost constant character throughout the entire
group, with the exception of the _Arctiadæ_.

There are three families of the _Caradrinina_ represented in New Zealand,
viz.:--

1. ARCTIADÆ.    2. CARADRINIDÆ.    3. PLUSIADÆ.


Family 1.--ARCTIADÆ.

The _Arctiadæ_ may be characterised as follows:--

  "Eyes smooth. Tongue developed. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present.
  Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 connate or stalked (rarely approximated or
  coincident), 8 anastomosing with cell nearly or quite from base to middle
  or beyond."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 1, 2, and 4, 5.)

This interesting family, although generally distributed throughout the
world, is very poorly represented in New Zealand. Unlike most of the
_Caradrinina_, many of the included species are day fliers and gaily
coloured. One of these, _Nyctemera annulata_, is probably one of the most
familiar of New Zealand insects, whilst the four remaining representatives
of the family are but seldom seen. To British entomologists the name of
{2}"tiger moths" will probably at once recall several conspicuous and
beautiful members of this family.

Three genera of the _Arctiadæ_ are represented in New Zealand, viz.:--

1. NYCTEMERA.    2. UTETHEISA.    3. METACRIAS.


Genus 1.--NYCTEMERA, Hb.

  "Tongue well developed. Antennæ in [M] bipectinated throughout. Palpi
  moderately long, porrected or rather ascending, with appressed scales;
  terminal joint moderate, cylindrical. Forewings with vein 6 out of 9 or
  separate, 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9 by a bar. Hind-wings with
  veins 6 and 7 stalked or separate, 8 anastomosing shortly with margin of
  cell near base." (Plate II., fig. 3 head, 4 neuration of fore-wing, 5
  ditto of hind-wing.)

  "The single New Zealand species is endemic, but nearly allied to an
  Australian form."--(Meyrick.)


NYCTEMERA ANNULATA, Boisd.

  (_Leptosoma annulata_, Boisd., Voy. Astr. v. 197, pl.  v.  9; Dbld.,
  Dieff, N. Z. ii. 284. _Nyctemera doubledayi_, Walk., Bomb. 392.
  _Nyctemera annulata_, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1886, 700; ditto,
  Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 218.)

(Plate IV., fig. 1 [M], 2 [F]; Plate III., fig. 9, larva.)

This species is perhaps one of the best known of the New Zealand
Lepidoptera, occurring in great profusion in all parts of both North and
South Islands. It is also common at Stewart Island, in the neighbourhood of
cultivation.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _All the wings are deep
  sooty black. The forewings have an irregular cream-coloured band running
  from beyond the middle of the costa towards the tornus._ This band is
  interrupted in the middle, and crossed by several black veins, which
  sometimes almost break it up into a chain of spots. The hind-wings have a
  single large cream-coloured spot near the middle. The body is black, with
  several orange markings on the thorax, and a series of broad orange rings
  on the abdomen.

This species varies a good deal in the extent of the cream-coloured
markings.

The larva feeds on the New Zealand groundsel (_Senecio bellidioides_), but
in cultivated districts it is more often observed on _Senecio scandens_, a
plant having a superficial resemblance to ivy, which frequently grows in
great profusion on fences and hedgerows in various parts of the country.

Mr. W. W. Smith informs us[4] that it also feeds on the common groundsel
(_S. vulgaris_) as well as on _Cineraria maritima_. I have often seen these
caterpillars on mild days in the middle of winter, and full-grown specimens
are very common towards the end of August, so that I think there is little
doubt that the species passes the winter in the larval condition. At other
seasons there is a continuous succession of broods.

  The length of the caterpillar when full grown is 1½ inches. It is covered
  with numerous tufts of long black hair, and is black in colour, with the
  dorsal and lateral lines dark-red. There are several large blue spots
  round the middle of each of the segments, and the membrane between each
  segment is bluish-grey. In younger larvæ the bluish-grey colouring
  extends over a considerable portion of the insect.

This caterpillar may be readily found, as it feeds on the upper surface of
the leaves fully exposed to view. Its hairy armour evidently renders it
unpalatable to birds, and hence the secret habits we observe in most larvæ
are absent in this species.

When full-fed it selects a secluded spot, generally a crevice in the trunk
of a tree, where it spins an oval cocoon of silk intermixed with its own
hairs. Here it changes {3}into a shining black pupa, speckled and striped
with yellow. The insect remains in this state about six weeks.

The moth first appears in September, and continues abundant until about the
end of March. It is extremely common, especially during the latter end of
summer, when specimens may often be seen flying in all directions. Mr.
Meyrick observes[5] that this species has the curious habit of soaring in
the early morning sunshine, soon after sunrise, in calm, fine weather. He
states that he has seen them in numbers, flying round the tops of trees, at
a height of over 100 feet. I can fully corroborate the accuracy of this
interesting observation, and have noticed the insect to be most active
between the hours of five and eight on fine mornings in midsummer. The
habit is certainly a very unusual one, as most insects are rarely seen at
that time of the day.

This moth is confined to New Zealand, but two closely allied species,
belonging to the same genus, are found in Australia.


Genus 2.--UTETHEISA, Hb.

  "Head smooth. Ocelli large. Antennæ in [M] ciliated, with longer setæ at
  joints. Palpi moderate, ascending, with loosely appressed scales. Thorax
  smooth beneath. Abdomen smooth-scaled. Tibiæ smooth-scaled, spurs very
  short. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9.
  Hind-legs with veins 3, 4, 5 rather approximated, 6 or 7 connate or
  short-stalked, 8 from middle of cell."

"A small genus inhabiting the warmer regions of the world. Larva with
rather scanty hairs, some finely branched."--(Meyrick.)

Represented in New Zealand by a single species of wide distribution.


UTETHEISA PULCHELLA, L.

(_Deiopeia pulchella_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 217.)

(Plate IV., fig. 3.)

This species was first observed in New Zealand in February, 1887, when I
captured a single specimen in the Wainui-o-mata valley. Since that time Mr.
A. Norris has seen two others near Petone, one of which is now in his
collection. All the specimens at present noticed have consequently occurred
in a very restricted portion of the Wellington District, though it is
probable that the insect is far more generally distributed throughout the
country than these records would seem to indicate.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1¼ inches. _The fore-wings are white,
  with five irregular transverse rows of oblong crimson spots, alternating
  with six irregular rows of small black dots._ The hind-wings are white,
  irregularly clouded with black on the termen; there are two small black
  spots near the middle. The body is white; the head and thorax are spotted
  with crimson, and the antennæ are black.

The larva is thus described by Newman:--[6]

  "The ground colour is leaden with a covering of black hairs; there is a
  broad white stripe down the back, and on each segment down the side is a
  double scarlet spot. On the continent of Europe this caterpillar is said
  to feed on the forget-me-not (_Myosotis arvensis_)."

In New Zealand the moth appears in February. Mr. Meyrick remarks[7]:--"It
is probably only an occasional immigrant. Although a feeble-looking insect,
it possesses extraordinary capabilities of flight, and is sometimes met
with far out at sea. It occurs throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia,
and the Pacific Islands." It is well known to {4}English entomologists as a
great rarity, and many discussions have taken place at various times as to
the propriety of retaining it on the list of British Lepidoptera.


Genus 3.--METACRIAS, Meyr.

  "Tongue obsolete. Antennæ in [M] moderately bipectinated throughout.
  Palpi rather short, hairy, concealed in rough hairs of head. Thorax and
  femora densely hairy beneath. Anterior tibiæ with developed spine
  beneath, and apical hook. Fore-wings with vein 2 from 2/3, 6 from point
  with or out of 9, 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 sometimes connected with 9 at a
  point above 7. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 almost from point, 6 and 7
  from point or short-stalked, 8 from about 1/3. Wings in [F] rudimentary.
  (Plate II., fig. 1 neuration of fore-wing, fig. 2 ditto of hind-wing.)

"An interesting and peculiar genus, apparently most allied to some
Australian forms of _Spilosoma_, but quite distinct. Three species have
been discovered, two of them quite recently, and it is not unreasonable to
hope that additional forms may hereafter be found amongst the mountains, to
which they seem especially attached."--(Meyrick).


METACRIAS STRATEGICA, Hdsn.

(_Arctia strategica_, Hdsn., Entom., 1889, 53. _Metacrias strategica_,
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.)

(Plate IV., fig. 4.)

This handsome species is at present only known by a single specimen,
captured by Mr. W. W. Smith, near the summit of the Richardson Range, in
South Canterbury, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet.

  The expansion of the wings of the male is 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  black, with two broad, dull yellow, longitudinal streaks_; between the
  costa and the first streak is a very fine yellowish line, and between the
  two streaks there are three similar lines. _The hind-wings are bright
  yellow, with a broad black band, parallel to the termen, interrupted just
  before the tornus; the vicinity of this black band is tinged with
  crimson._ The body is black; the top of the head, collar, and sides of
  the thorax and abdomen are dull yellow. The female is probably apterous.

This species may be readily distinguished from the two following by the
yellow collar, absence of any large spot in the centre of both fore-wings
and hind-wings, and the red colouring of the termen of the hind-wings. The
moth was taken in February, frequenting a species of _Carmichælia_. It may
be looked for in the mountainous regions of South Canterbury, but at
present nothing further is known of its habits.


METACRIAS ERICHRYSA, Meyr.

(_Metacrias erichrysa_, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1886, 749; ditto,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.)

(Plate IV., fig. 5.)

This species was discovered by Mr. Meyrick on Mount Arthur in the Nelson
District in 1886. Since that time I have taken eleven specimens in the same
locality, and have seen several others, but as yet I have not heard of its
occurrence elsewhere.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are black, with
  orange-yellow markings._ These consist of a fine line near the costa,
  becoming very broad near the base, several elongate markings between the
  veins near the middle, a series of spots near the termen, and a broad
  streak parallel to the dorsum. The hind-wings are orange-yellow, with a
  curved black spot in the middle, and a broad black band on the termen,
  ending considerably before the tornus, and nearly broken a little before
  its termination. The female, according to Mr. Meyrick,[8] is "wholly
  whitish-ochreous; wings minute, aborted; legs short, stout, well
  developed."

The life-history is thus described by Mr. Meyrick[9]: "The larva is wholly
black, clothed with long black hairs, those covering segmental incisions
brownish-ochreous. It feeds on _Senecio bellidioides_. The pupa is enclosed
in a slight cocoon."

{5}The perfect insect occurs in January, frequenting sunny, grassy slopes
on the mountain-sides, at about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It flies
with great rapidity; hence it is generally very difficult to catch.


METACRIAS HUTTONII, Butl.

(_Phaos huttonii_, Butl., Cist. Ent. 487; _Metacrias huttonii_, Meyr.,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1886, 750; Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.)

(Plate IV., fig. 6.)

This interesting species was discovered at Lake Wakatipu, by Professor
Hutton.

  The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-1/8 inches. The fore-wings
  are black; _there is an oblique crimson line near the base_, two broad
  longitudinal cream-coloured lines above and below the middle, and a
  double transverse series of oblong cream-coloured spots near the termen.
  The hind-wings are pale ochreous, with a black crescent-shaped spot near
  the middle, and a broad black band almost touching the termen except a
  little before the tornus. The female is apterous.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


Family 2.--CARADRINIDÆ.

The _Caradrinidæ_ are distinguished by the following characters:--

  "Ocelli usually present. Tongue usually well developed. Labial palpi
  moderate, more or less ascending, second joint densely scaled, usually
  rough, terminal rather short, obtuse. Thorax usually densely hairy
  beneath. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7
  and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4
  connate or short-stalked, 5 obsolete or imperfect, parallel to 4, 6 and 7
  connate or short-stalked or seldom closely approximated only, 8 shortly
  anastomosing with cell near base, thence evenly diverging." (Plate II.,
  figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.)

"A dominant family in temperate regions, especially in the northern
hemisphere, the species being very numerous and often occurring in great
plenty; within the tropics, however, their place is largely taken by the
_Plusiadæ_. The structure is in most particulars remarkably uniform, the
neuration and palpi being practically identical throughout the family. The
markings are usually very similar, and the colouring dull and adapted to
conceal insects which are accustomed to hide amongst dead leaves or refuse;
hence this family is not one of the easiest or most attractive to study.
The species are the most truly nocturnal of all the Lepidoptera; few are
readily obtainable by day, but at night they are found in abundance at
flowers or sugar. Imago with fore-wings usually elongate, body relatively
stout, and densely scaled. It may be noted as an established conclusion
that antennal pectinations, if not extending to the apex of the antennæ,
are in this family seldom sufficient to mark generic distinction.

"Ovum spherical, more or less distinctly ribbed, and reticulated. Larva
usually with few hairs, often nocturnal, sometimes subterranean; often very
polyphagous. Pupa usually subterranean."--(Meyrick.)

The family is represented in New Zealand by the following twelve genera:--

                                { 1. MISELIA.
  Sub-family 1.--POLIADES       { 2. ORTHOSIA.
                                { 3. XANTHIA.

                                { 4. PHYSETICA.
                                { 5. LEUCANIA.
  Sub-family 2.--MELANCHRIDES   { 6. ICHNEUTICA.
                                { 7. MELANCHRA.
                                { 8. ERANA.

                                { 9. BITYLA.                          {6}
  Sub-family 3.--CARADRINIDES   { 10. AGROTIS.
                                { 11. HELIOTHIS.
                                { 12. COSMODES.


Sub-family 1.--_POLIADES_.

  "Eyes naked, ciliated (_i.e._, furnished with a marginal row of long
  cilia curving over them)."--(Meyrick.)


Genus 1.--MISELIA, Steph.

  "Antennæ in male filiform, moderately ciliated. Thorax with anterior
  angles projecting, somewhat crested. Abdomen not crested."--(Meyrick.)

We have at present but one New Zealand species.


MISELIA PESSOTA, Meyr.

(_Miselia pessota_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 29.)

(Plate V., fig. 26.)

This little species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at
Lake Coleridge and Rakaia in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are dull
  purplish-brown; _there is an oblong black mark at the base of the dorsum
  containing a slender curved white line_; the orbicular is rather small,
  round, margined first with dull white and then with black; the reniform
  is large, oblong, dull white, margined with pale ochreous towards the
  base of the wing; _there is a conspicuous oblong black mark between the
  orbicular and reniform stigmata_. The hind-wings are dull grey, with the
  cilia paler.

The perfect insect appears in January. One specimen was taken at sugar in
the Wellington Botanical Gardens, and two specimens are recorded from
Canterbury. It is evidently a scarce species.


Genus 2.--ORTHOSIA, Ochs.

  "Head rough-scaled; eyes naked, ciliated. Antennæ in male ciliated.
  Thorax with or without anterior crest. Abdomen not crested.

"A considerable genus of nearly universal distribution, though mainly found
in temperate regions of both hemispheres. The imagos are almost all
autumnal, and their yellow and ferruginous colouring is doubtless adapted
to the autumn tints of falling leaves."--(Meyrick.)

Represented in New Zealand by three species.


ORTHOSIA MARGARITA, Hawth.

(_Orthosia margarita_, Hawth., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxix. 283.)

(Plate V., fig. 31.)

This species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. E. F. Hawthorne.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-1/3 inches. The fore-wings are dark
  brownish-black and rather glossy; there are several obscure dark marks
  near the base; the orbicular is oval, oblique, brownish-yellow, slightly
  darker in the middle; the claviform is almost obsolete; the reniform is
  rather large, bordered with dull white towards the base and termen;
  beyond the reniform there is a very distinct wavy transverse line;
  another line is situated near the termen emitting several black
  wedge-shaped markings from its inner edge. _The hind-wings are shining
  white and iridescent, with the veins black and the costa and termen
  narrowly shaded with black._

Described and figured from specimens in Mr. Hawthorne's collection.


{7}ORTHOSIA COMMA, Walk.

  (_Mamestra comma_, Walk., Noct. 239; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix., 6.
  _Graphiphora implexa_, Walk., Noct. 405. _Hadena plusiata_, ib., Suppl.
  742; _Nitocris bicomma_, Gn., Ent. Mon. Mag. v., 4. _Orthosia comma_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 30.)

(Plate V., fig. 27 [M], 28 [F]; Plate III., fig. 11, larva.)

This is apparently a common and generally distributed species. It has
occurred plentifully at Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dark
  grey crossed by four wavy, black-margined, transverse lines; beyond the
  outermost of these lines there is a black band running parallel with the
  termen, and beyond this again a broader band of the ground colour; the
  orbicular spot is very minute and dull white; the reniform, which is
  surrounded by a black shading, is large, yellow towards the costa, and
  white towards the termen. The hind-wings are dark grey. The females are
  generally much darker than the males, some specimens having the
  fore-wings very dark brownish-black.

Both sexes vary a good deal in the depth of colouring, but the markings
appear to be quite constant.

  The larva is dark brown, tinged with pink; the subdorsal region is paler,
  there are a series of diagonal blackish stripes on each segment, and the
  anterior portions of the larva are much darker than the rest of the body.

The specimens I reared were fed on lettuce, but I expect that the
caterpillar feeds on low plants generally. It is full grown about January.
The pupa state is spent in the earth.

The moth appears in January, February, and March. It is very common at the
flowers of the white rata, and may also be attracted by sugar and by light.


ORTHOSIA IMMUNIS, Walk.

  (_Tæniocampa immunis_, Walk., Noct. 430. _Cerastis innocua_, ib. 1710
  (locality probably erroneous). _Agrotis acetina_, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl.
  cix. 6. _Orthosia immunis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 30.)

(Plate V., fig. 29.)

This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at
Blenheim in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings vary from
  bright orange-brown to dull reddish-brown_; there is an obscure black dot
  near the base, a faint transverse line at about one-fourth; the orbicular
  is oval, faintly outlined in brown; the claviform is very faint, its
  position indicated by a small brown dot; the reniform is large, oblong,
  much indented towards the termen, doubly outlined with dull yellow and
  containing a blackish spot towards its lower edge, its posterior margin
  is shaded with dark brown; there are several faint, wavy, transverse
  lines near the termen, and the termen itself is shaded with
  brownish-black; the cilia are reddish-brown. The hind-wings are dull
  grey; the cilia are pale reddish-ochreous tipped with white. _The head is
  covered with scattered white scales_, the thorax is reddish-brown, and
  the abdomen is grey tipped with reddish-brown; _the upper joints of the
  tarsi of the anterior legs are white_.

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It frequents
the blossoms of the white rata, where it occasionally may be taken in the
daytime, but more frequently at night. It is not, however, a common
species.


Genus 3.--XANTHIA, Tr.

  "Antennæ in male filiform, moderately ciliated. Thorax with sharp
  compressed anterior and small posterior crest. Abdomen not
  crested."--(Meyrick.)

Only one New Zealand species is known at present.


{8}XANTHIA PURPUREA, Butl.

(_Graphiphora purpurea_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. _Xanthia ceramodes_, Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 31. _X. purpurea_, ib. xx. 46.)

(Plate V., fig. 32.)

This handsome species has been found at Wellington in the North Island, and
at Dunedin in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are rich, glossy
  reddish-brown with several scattered whitish scales; there is a distinct
  yellow mark on the costa at about one-fourth, forming the beginning of a
  broken transverse line; the orbicular is small, round, and yellowish; the
  reniform is small, crescentic and yellowish, _the space between the
  orbicular and the reniform is very dark blackish-brown_; beyond the
  reniform there is a conspicuous white mark on the costa forming the
  beginning of a second broken transverse line; a third shaded line is
  situated near the termen. The hind-wings are pale brown with a dark spot
  in the middle, very conspicuous on the under surface.

The perfect insect appears from September till April. It is usually taken
at sugar or light, but is not a very common species.


Sub-family 2.--_MELANCHRIDES_.

  Eyes hairy.

Genus 4.--PHYSETICA, Meyr.

  "Palpi with terminal joint in male greatly swollen, as broad as second,
  rather short, rounded, with an orifice in outer side, in female normal.
  Antennæ in male filiform, simple. Thorax and abdomen smooth."--(Meyrick.)
  (Plate II., fig. 8.)


PHYSETICA CÆRULEA, Gn.

(_Agrotis cærulea_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 38. _Physetica cærulea_, Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 5.)

(Plate IV., fig. 7.)

This fine species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at
Blenheim and Rakaia in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-5/8 inches. _The fore-wings are
  slaty-blue_; there is an obscure, wavy, whitish transverse line near the
  base, two very wavy blackish lines at about one-third, a dark transverse
  shaded line across the middle, containing the orbicular spot, then a very
  wavy line followed by a darker space and a wavy, dull, whitish terminal
  line. Hind-wings dark grey, paler near the base, cilia shining white.

The perfect insect appears in October, December, and January. Mr. Fereday
states that it was formerly very common at blossoms.


Genus 5.--LEUCANIA, Ochs.

  "Head rough-scaled; eyes hairy. Antennæ in male ciliated. Thorax with or
  without slight anterior crest. Abdomen not crested.

"A very large cosmopolitan genus, equally common everywhere; it is a
development of _Melanchra_, to which some of the New Zealand species give
such a complete transition that a line of demarcation can hardly be drawn.
The larvæ all feed on _Gramineæ_."--(Meyrick.)

We have seventeen species.


{9}LEUCANIA GRISEIPENNIS, Feld.

  (_Mamestra griseipennis_, Feld., pl. cix. 22. _Chera virescens_, Butl.,
  Cist. Ent. ii. 489. _Spælotis inconstans_, ib. 545; _Leucania moderata_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 7 (nec Walk.). _Leucania griseipennis_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 44.)

(Plate IV., fig. 8.)

This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island. In the South
Island it has been taken at Mount Arthur, Lake Coleridge, Rakaia, Akaroa,
and Lake Guyon.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dull
  greenish-grey; there are two obscure blackish transverse lines near the
  base and several dull white dots; _a very conspicuous transverse curved
  black shade near the middle, followed by an extremely jagged dull white
  transverse line, another less jagged transverse line near the termen; the
  orbicular is oval, pale, edged with black_; the reniform and claviform
  are also pale but inconspicuous; the cilia are tinged with brown. The
  hind-wings are grey _with the cilia wholly white_.

The following variety, taken on Mount Arthur, is thus described by Mr.
Meyrick:--

  "_Var. A._ Thorax and fore-wings without ochreous tinge, with numerous
  white scales tending to form suffused spots and margins to lines; cilia
  distinctly barred with darker; hind-wings grey, with dark grey, irregular
  terminal band."[10]

The perfect insect appears from November till March, and is said to be very
common in certain localities. It has been taken at considerable elevations
in the Nelson province (4,700 feet above the sea-level on Mount Arthur, by
Mr. Meyrick and myself). In Wellington it is certainly a scarce species.


LEUCANIA MODERATA, Walk.

  (_Agrotis moderata_, Walk., Suppl. 705. _Eumichtis sistens_, Gn., Ent.
  Mo. Mag. v. 39. _Mamestra sistens_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 19.
  _Leucania moderata_, ib. xx. 45.)

This species has occurred at Rakaia in the South Island. It very closely
resembles the preceding species, from which it is said to be distinguished
by the cilia of the hind-wings, which are "partially grey in _Leucania
moderata_, wholly white in _L. griseipennis_."--(Meyrick.)

The perfect insect appears in February. I am unacquainted with this
species.


LEUCANIA TEMPERATA, Walk.

(_Bryophila temperata_, Walk., 1648 (nec Meyrick). _Xylina inceptura_, ib.
1736. _X. deceptura_, ib. 1737. _Leucania temperata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z.
Inst. xx. 45.)

  "Terminal joint of palpi moderate; form of wing as in _Leucania
  griseipennis_, first and second lines whitish, inconspicuous, margined
  with black dots, second line evenly curved, subterminal perceptible;
  cilia grey, indistinctly barred with white. Hind-wings grey."--(Meyrick.)

Described by Mr. Meyrick from the British Museum specimens.

I am unacquainted with this species.


LEUCANIA NULLIFERA, Walk.

  (_Agrotis nullifera_, Walk., Noct. 742; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 5.
  _Alysia specifica_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 3. _Leucania nullifera_, Meyr.,
  Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 7.)

(Plate IV., fig. 9; head, Plate II., fig. 11.)

This large though sombre-looking insect has occurred in the North Island at
Taupo and Wellington. In the South Island it has been taken commonly at
Mount Arthur, Christchurch, and Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is from 2½ to 2¾ inches. _The fore-wings are
  uniform dull grey_, with a double row of very faint white spots parallel
  to the termen; _the hind-wings, head, thorax, and abdomen are pale grey_.

{10}In some specimens the fore-wings are quite destitute of markings,
whilst in others the ground colouring varies considerably, and is
occasionally dull brown instead of grey.

  The larva is very stout, bright yellowish-brown, considerably paler on
  the under surface; the dorsal line is faintly indicated, the subdorsal
  and lateral lines are dull brown, with a chain of elongate white spots
  beneath each; the spiracles and dorsal surface of the posterior segments
  are black; there are also numerous white dots all over the larva.

This caterpillar feeds on spear-grass (_Aciphylla squarrosa_), and only a
single individual inhabits each clump. It devours the soft, central
portions of the tussock, and its presence can generally be detected by a
quantity of pale brown "frass," or discoloration, which is generally
visible near the bases of the leaves. Owing to the formidable array of
spines presented by the spear-grass, this larva can have but few enemies.
The presence of these spines makes the insect a difficult one to obtain
without special apparatus. A sharp pair of strong scissors, however, will
enable the collector to cut off a sufficient number of the "spears" to
allow of the insertion of a small trowel or hatchet under the root. The
plant can then be lifted out of the ground, and the larva afterwards
carefully extracted from its burrow in the stem. These larvæ are full grown
about the end of May, which is consequently the best time to obtain them
for rearing. The pupa is enclosed in an earthen cell amongst the roots of
the spear-grass. The moth appears in November, December, January, February,
and March. It is sometimes attracted by light. I have found it commonly on
the Tableland of Mount Arthur at elevations of from 3,500 to 4,000 feet
above the sea-level, where its food-plant also flourishes.


LEUCANIA PURDII, Frdy.

(_Leucania purdii_, Frdy., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xv. 195; Meyr., ib. xix. 8.)

(Plate IV., fig. 11.)

This fine species was discovered at Dunedin by Mr. Purdie. A single
specimen has also been taken at Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is from 2¼ to 2½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  brownish-crimson; there are two broad, shaded, yellow, longitudinal
  streaks above and below the middle_; the costa is margined with yellow
  near the base, and the dorsum is yellow throughout its entire length; the
  cilia are deep orange. The hind-wings are dark grey, and the cilia
  yellow.

The perfect insect appears in December.

Described and figured from specimens in the collections of Messrs. Fereday
and Hawthorne.


LEUCANIA ATRISTRIGA, Walk.

(_Xylina atristriga_, Walk., Suppl. 756. _Mamestra antipoda_, Feld., Reis.
Nov., pl. cix. 23. _Leucania atristriga_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix.
8.)

(Plate IV., fig. 12.)

This smart-looking species is very common in the North Island in the
neighbourhood of Wellington. In the South Island it has occurred abundantly
at Nelson, Christchurch, Lake Coleridge, and Dunedin.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are rich
  reddish-brown; _there is a broad bluish-grey longitudinal streak on the
  costa, reaching nearly to the apex, and a very broad, pale brown,
  longitudinal shading on the dorsum; there is a conspicuous longitudinal
  black stripe in the middle of the wing from the base to one-third, the
  orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots are bluish-grey, edged with
  black_, the transverse lines are very indistinct; the cilia are
  reddish-brown. The hind-wings are dark grey with the cilia ochreous.

  {11}This species varies slightly in the intensity of its markings and in
  the extent of the pale dorsal area.

The moth first appears about January and continues in great abundance until
the middle or end of April, being one of the last of our _Leucanias_ to
disappear in the autumn. It is extremely partial to the flowers of the
white rata (_Metrosideros scandens_), where, on warm, still evenings, it
may be often met with in the utmost profusion. It also comes freely to
sugar, and is frequently attracted by light.


LEUCANIA PROPRIA, Walk.

(_Leucania propria_, Walk., Noct. iii.; Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 2; Butl.,
Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 4; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 9.)

(Plate IV., fig. 13.)

This insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur, Blenheim, and
Mount Hutt.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are pale
  ochreous; _there is a conspicuous longitudinal black streak in the middle
  of the wing, extending from the base to about one-third, and a broad,
  dark brown longitudinal shading, slightly above the middle, from
  one-fourth to the termen_; the reniform is rather small, dull grey,
  faintly edged with darker, the orbicular and claviform are very
  indistinct or absent; there is a transverse series of black dots on the
  veins a little before the termen, and another series on the termen; the
  cilia are ochreous banded with brown. The hind-wings are pale grey, with
  a terminal series of small black marks; the cilia are ochreous. The head
  and thorax are pale reddish-brown, and the abdomen is ochreous.

This species varies slightly in the depth of its colouring.

The perfect insect is met with from January till March. On the Mount Arthur
Tableland it occurred very commonly at about 3,800 feet above the
sea-level. In this locality it was freely attracted by light, and large
numbers of specimens were captured by the aid of a single candle, exhibited
at the tent door during mild evenings.


LEUCANIA ACONTISTIS, Meyr.

(_Leucania acontistis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 9.)

(Plate IV., fig. 14.)

A single specimen of this species was captured at Castle Hill by Mr. J. D.
Enys, and is now in Mr. Fereday's collection.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings are dull
  ochreous; the veins are slightly darker; there is a fine, black,
  doubly-curved, longitudinal streak from the base to about one-third._ The
  hind-wings are pale yellowish-grey. The cilia of all the wings are dull
  ochreous.

Described and figured from the specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


LEUCANIA PHAULA, Meyr.

(_Leucania phaula_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 10.)

(Plate IV., fig. 15.)

Two specimens of this insect, "bred from tussock grass," were found at
Christchurch.[11]

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dull
  ochreous, with the veins obscurely indicated by black and white dots;
  there is a curved series of minute black dots near the termen. The
  hind-wings are pale ochreous, clouded with grey towards the termen. The
  cilia of all the wings are dull ochreous. This insect may be
  distinguished from _Leucania unica_ by its larger size, duller
  coloration, less oblique termen of fore-wings, and simple antennæ in the
  male.

The perfect insect appears in November.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


{12}LEUCANIA ALOPA, Meyr.

(_Leucania alopa_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 10.)

(Plate IV., fig. 16.)

This species has occurred at Lake Coleridge and at Lake Guyon.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are dull
  orange-brown_; there are three obscure black dots at about one-third;
  _the reniform is represented by a rather conspicuous cloudy spot_; there
  is a curved series of black dots near the termen. The hind-wings are
  grey, paler towards the base. The cilia of all the wings are dull
  orange-brown.

The moth appears in March.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


LEUCANIA MICRASTRA, Meyr.

(_Leucania micrastra_, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1897, 383.)

(Plate IV., fig. 10.)

Three specimens of this insect have occurred in my garden at Karori.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are _bright
  orange-brown_; there are several white scales near the base, two
  black-edged white dots at about one-third, _a small black spot with a
  shining white dot on each side of it at the origin of veins 3 and 4_, and
  a series of black and white dots on all the veins near the termen; the
  cilia are orange-brown _tipped with white_. The hind-wings are pale
  ochreous-brown. The cilia are ochreous broadly _tipped with white_.

This species somewhat resembles _Leucania alopa_ in general appearance, but
the wings are narrower and the colour of the fore-wings is considerably
brighter.

The moth appears in December.


LEUCANIA UNICA, Walk.

  (_Leucania unica_, Walk., Noct. 112; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 9.
  _Nonagria juncicolor_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 2. _Leucania unica_, Meyr.,
  Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 10.)

(Plate IV., fig. 17.)

This insect has been taken at Blenheim and at Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are dull
  ochreous with the veins darker; there are one or two obscure blackish
  dots at about one-third from the base, and several faint dots near the
  termen. Hind-wings paler with very pale cilia; _the antennæ in the male
  are moderately bipectinated_.

The moth appears in November.

Described and figured from Mr. Fereday's specimens.


LEUCANIA AROTIS, Meyr.

(_Leucania arotis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 11. _Leucania
aulacias_,[12] Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 11.)

(Plate IV., fig. 18.)

This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island. In the South
Island it has been found at Blenheim, Christchurch, and Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  cream-colour with the veins finely marked in grey; there is a series of
  streaks of darker cream-colour between the veins_, and a row of minute
  black dots near the termen; the cilia are cream-colour. The hind-wings
  are dark grey with the cilia white.

The perfect insect appears in November and December. It is rather a scarce
species.


{13}LEUCANIA SULCANA, Fereday.

(_Leucania sulcana_, Frdy., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xii. 267, pl. ix.; Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 11.)

(Plate IV., fig. 19 [M], 20 [F].)

This species has occurred at Akaroa and at Dunedin.

  The expansion of the wings is from 1½ to 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings are
  light ochreous with the veins white_; there is a shaded, brownish,
  longitudinal streak near the apex, another from the end of the cell to
  the termen, a stronger streak from the base of the wing to near the
  tornus, and another along the dorsum; there is a minute black dot near
  the base above the middle, a slightly larger dot at about one-third, a
  conspicuous dot between the origins of veins 3 and 4, and a very minute
  dot on vein 6. _Hind-wings dark blackish-grey, cilia paler._

The perfect insect appears in February, and has been taken at sugar.

Described and figured from specimens in Mr. Fereday's collection.


LEUCANIA SEMIVITTATA, Walk.

(_Leucania semivittata_, Walk., Suppl. 628; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix.
12.)

(Plate IV., fig. 21 [M], 22 [F].)

This species has occurred commonly at Christchurch, Mount Torlesse, and
Dunedin.

  The expansion of the wings is from 1-1/8 to 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings
  are pale ochreous; there is a very obscure, shaded, brownish,
  longitudinal streak below the middle, _a conspicuous black dot at the
  base, a second at about one-sixth, a third at one-third_, a fourth
  between the origins of veins 3 and 4, a curved series of minute terminal
  dots. Hind-wings much paler with a darker blotch near the middle. In the
  female the wings are browner with the dots much smaller or absent.

The moth appears in April and May, being found at night on the blossoms of
the _scabious_.

Described and figured from specimens in Mr. Fereday's collection.


LEUCANIA BLENHEIMENSIS, Frdy.

(_Leucania blenheimensis_, Frdy., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xv. 196; Meyr., ib.
xix. 12.)

(Plate IV., fig. 23 [F].)

This rather striking insect has occurred at Napier and at Blenheim.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  cream-coloured with the veins darker_; there are three faint black dots
  at about one-third, a curved series of black dots near the termen, _the
  termen itself being strongly shaded with dark greyish-brown_; the cilia
  are dark greyish-brown. The hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base;
  the cilia are also grey.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


LEUCANIA UNIPUNCTA, Haw.

  (_Leucania unipuncta_, Haw., Lepidoptera Britannica, p. 174, No. 37.
  _Leucania extranea_, Gn., Noct. v. 77; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 2;
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 12.)

(Plate IV., fig. 24.)

This species has occurred at Napier and at Wellington in the North Island.
In the South Island it has been found at Nelson and at Christchurch.

  The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings vary from dull
  ochreous to bright reddish-ochreous; there are numerous indistinct
  blackish dots; _the orbicular and reniform are almost round and slightly
  paler than the rest of the wing; there is a minute white dot immediately
  below the reniform and an obscure, oblique blackish line from the apex of
  the wing_ ending in a series of minute black dots; _the termen is not
  indented_. The hind-wings are grey, darker near the termen; the cilia are
  white.

Varies considerably in the ground colour and in the extent of the black
speckling.

  "The larva is extremely variable. Its usual colour is pale brown with a
  white dorsal line and several dark lines on each side.

{14}"Young larvæ closely resemble their food-plant in colour, and
occasionally this is persistent throughout life; in fact the larva is very
variable. Feeds on various grasses."[13]

The perfect insect first appears about January, and continues in increasing
numbers until the middle or end of April. It is often met with at sugar.

This species is of almost universal distribution, having occurred in
Australia, Java, India, Europe, and North and South America. In England it
is regarded as a great rarity.


Genus 6.--ICHNEUTICA, Meyr.

  "Antennæ in male strongly bipectinated throughout. Thorax and abdomen
  smooth."--(Meyrick.)

This genus is very closely allied to _Leucania_. It appears to be
exclusively limited to New Zealand, where it is represented by two
conspicuous species. Probably when the extensive mountainous regions of the
country have been more fully explored by entomologists other species will
be discovered.


ICHNEUTICA DIONE, n. sp.

(Plate IV., fig. 27 [M].)

A single specimen of this interesting species was captured by Mr. C. W.
Palmer, on Mount Arthur at an elevation of about 4,400 feet.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dull
  blackish-brown, _darker near the middle; there is a rather oblique,
  white, longitudinal stripe below the middle from about one-eighth to
  one-third; above this there is a very conspicuous, large, elongate white
  mark; this mark has a semicircular indentation above, probably
  representing the orbicular; another indentation towards the termen,
  probably representing the reniform, and below this it emits two short
  teeth-like projections_; beyond these markings the ground colour becomes
  paler, and is traversed by an obscure, jagged, transverse line; the cilia
  are grey. The hind-wings are pale grey; the cilia are also grey. The body
  is dark brownish-black. The pectinations of the antennæ of this insect
  are slightly shorter than those in _Ichneutica ceraunias_.

The type specimen is slightly damaged; but the species is so evidently
distinct that I feel no hesitation in describing it.


ICHNEUTICA CERAUNIAS, Meyr.

(_Ichneutica ceraunias_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 13.)

(Plate IV., fig. 25 [M], 26 [F]).

This handsome species has hitherto only occurred on the Tableland of Mount
Arthur, where, however, it seems to be common.

  The expansion of the wings of the male is 1¾ inches, of the female 2
  inches. The fore-wings of the male are rich orange-brown, paler towards
  the base. There are two very broad, longitudinal, yellowish stripes, one
  on the costa and the other on the dorsum. The costal stripe divides into
  two branches before its termination, one of which is produced downwards;
  there is also a _conspicuous white mark a little beyond the middle of the
  wing emitting two tooth-like projections towards the termen_, and two
  narrow, dark brown streaks near the base of the wing. The hind-wings are
  dark brownish-grey. The head, thorax, and abdomen are yellowish-brown,
  and the antennæ are very strongly bipectinated. The female is much
  narrower in the wings, the ground colouring is dull brown, and the
  markings are all dull yellow.

This species varies slightly in the intensity of the markings.

The moth appears early in January. It is much attracted by light. In 1891 I
took over twenty specimens by means of a single candle exhibited, during
three evenings, {15}at the door of my tent. Prior to this date only one
specimen had been taken by Mr. Meyrick during January, 1886. All these
moths were met with over 3,500 feet above the sea-level, so that the insect
is evidently confined to mountain regions.


Genus 7.--MELANCHRA, Hb.

  "Head rough-scaled; eyes hairy. Antennæ in [M] ciliated, or sometimes
  bipectinated with apex simple. Thorax with more or less developed
  anterior and posterior crests. Abdomen more or less crested, in [F]
  obtuse. Anterior tibiæ rarely with apical hook."

"A large genus of very general distribution, but much commoner in temperate
regions of both hemispheres. Relatively much more numerous in New Zealand
than elsewhere."--(Meyrick.)

This genus includes no less than thirty-four species. Some of these are
extremely difficult to distinguish owing to the obscurity of their
markings, which offer unusual obstacles to clear description and
delineation. I have, however, endeavoured to point out what, in my opinion,
constitute the most reliable distinctions; but I fear that amongst those
species, where only one or two specimens are known, cases of real
difficulty will arise. Future investigation will no doubt result in a
remodelling of some of the more obscure species in this genus.

It may be well to point out that the genus _Melanchra_ was formerly known
by the name of _Mamestra_.


MELANCHRA DISJUNGENS, Walk.

  (_Heliophobus disjungens_, Walk., Noct. 1681; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix.
  1. _Hadena nervata_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 40. _Mamestra disjungens_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 15.)

(Plate V., fig. 43.)

This species has occurred in the South Island at Ashburton and at Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are
  brownish-grey; _the veins are very conspicuously marked in white_, the
  orbicular and reniform are large, white, each with a dusky centre; there
  is a conspicuous, white, transverse line near the termen, emitting two
  white, tooth-like projections on veins 3 and 4, _and connected with a
  longitudinal line running to the base of the wing_. The hind-wings are
  grey with the cilia white.

The perfect insect appears from November till January. It was formerly a
common species near Rakaia, but is now much scarcer.


MELANCHRA PARACAUSTA, Meyr.

(_Mamestra paracausta_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 15.)

(Plate IV., fig. 28 [M], 28A [F].)

This species has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill,
and Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings are
  dull white with an irregular, central, longitudinal, blackish-brown
  streak becoming very broad towards the termen; there is an oval
  reddish-brown blotch near the base, but no distinct transverse lines; two
  conspicuous elliptic, white marks are situated on the termen near the
  tornus._ The hind-wings are pale grey, with an obscure central shade and
  a series of brownish dots along the termen.

The species appears somewhat variable. In some male specimens the white
colouring is largely replaced by pale yellowish-brown. Described and
figured from specimens in the collections of Messrs. Fereday, Hawthorne,
and Philpott[14].


{16}MELANCHRA INSIGNIS, Walk.

  (_Euplexia insignis_, Walk., Suppl. 724. _Xylina turbida_, ib. 754.
  _Mamestra polychroa_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 16. _Mamestra
  insignis_, Meyr., ib. xx. 45.)

(Plate IV., fig. 29 [M], 30 [F].)

This pretty species has occurred at Palmerston and Wellington in the North
Island, and at Blenheim, Christchurch, and West Plains near Invercargill in
the South Island. It is probably common and generally distributed.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings are
  pinkish-brown_; there is a short black streak near the centre of the wing
  at the base, and an irregular, extensive black marking along the dorsum;
  _the orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots are large, margined first
  with green and then with black_; a fine white line is situated parallel
  with the termen, edged with green, and emitting two sharp tooth-like
  markings; beyond this line the ground colour of the wing is
  dark-brownish-black. The hind-wings are dull brown, darker towards
  termen; the cilia are white with a brown line. The antennæ of the male
  are slightly bipectinated. In the female the ground colour is
  considerably paler, the black markings much darker, and more suffused,
  and the posterior half of the reniform is usually creamy-white.

Some specimens have the green and black markings slightly more pronounced,
but otherwise there are no important variations.

The eggs are deposited in October and November. When first laid they are
pale greenish-white, but become dark brown in the centre as the enclosed
embryo develops. The young larvæ emerge in about a fortnight. At this time
the two anterior pairs of prolegs are very short, causing the caterpillar
to loop up its back when walking. In colour the young larva is pale brown,
with numerous black warts emitting several long, stiff bristles. It is very
active, and busily devours the soft green portions of the dock leaves,
leaving the harder membrane untouched. Twelve days later the larva becomes
pale green in colour, and moults for the first time, after which traces of
subdorsal and lateral lines present themselves. Growth then proceeds with
great rapidity, and in another eleven days the larva again sheds its skin.
The last moult occurs a fortnight later.

  At this time the larva is pale greenish-brown, inclining to yellow on the
  ventral surface. The lateral lines consist of a series of black markings
  near the posterior margin of each segment; the subdorsal lines are
  represented by four oblique black marks on each side of the four
  posterior segments of the larva. The region between these lines is much
  clouded with yellowish-green or pink, the larvæ having a tendency to
  diverge into pink and green varieties. The anal segment is dull yellow.
  The head is brown, with two black stripes and several black dots.

Whilst rearing these larvæ I noticed that during the daytime they
invariably hid themselves under the blotting paper at the bottom of the
breeding cage. No doubt, under natural conditions, they retreat beneath the
ground, only coming abroad at night to feed. This habit would account for
the difficulty experienced in finding larvæ of this genus in a state of
nature.

The pupa state is spent in the earth, and occupies about a month.

The moth appears towards the end of January. It evidently hibernates
through the winter, as it is often seen very late in the autumn, and is
always one of the first moths to come to sugar in the early spring. It is
frequently observed at rest on fences and trees in the daytime.


{17}MELANCHRA MAYA, n. sp.

(Plate IV., fig. 31.)

A single specimen of this species was taken on the Tableland of Mount
Arthur, at an altitude of about 3,500 feet.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are bright
  yellowish-brown, paler towards the apex; there are two broad, shaded,
  black stripes at the base, one near the middle edged with yellow above,
  and one below the middle edged with yellow beneath; the orbicular is
  oval, oblique, edged with black except towards the costa; the claviform
  is rather irregular, dark purplish-brown; _the reniform is very large,
  dark purplish-brown edged with black; there is a large elongate patch of
  very dark brown at the tornus, partly edged first with yellow and then
  with black_; another smaller patch is situated on the termen near the
  middle, bisected by a fine yellow line. The hind-wings are grey; the
  cilia of all the wings are yellowish-brown. The head and thorax are
  purplish-brown, the abdomen dull brownish-grey.


MELANCHRA PLENA, Walk.

  (_Erana plena_, Walk., Suppl. 744. _Mamestra sphagnea_, Feld., Reis.
  Nov., pl. cix. 17. _Dianthoecia viridis_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 547.
  _Mamestra plena_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 17.)

(Plate IV., fig. 32.)

Apparently common in the Canterbury district, where it has been taken at
Christchurch and Mount Hutt. In the North Island it has occurred in the
neighbourhood of Wellington.

  It resembles _Melanchra insignis_ in every respect except that the head,
  thorax, and fore-wings are entirely suffused with green; there is no
  central black streak at the base, and the orbicular, reniform, and
  claviform spots are smaller.

It varies a little in the intensity of the green colouring.

The eggs are deposited early in November. At first they are white in
colour, but soon become dull brown, with two concentric circular markings.
The young larva closely resembles that of the _Melanchra insignis_, but is
much more sluggish. It feeds on grasses and other low plants.

In about six weeks' time it is full grown, when it still resembles the
caterpillar of _Melanchra insignis_, except that its colouring is
considerably darker, and a number of rust-red spots are situated on the
subdorsal line. This larva also appears to spend the daytime underground,
only coming abroad in the evening to feed. The pupa is concealed in the
earth.

The perfect insect may be occasionally found at rest on tree-trunks in the
forest, where it is very hard to discover, as it almost exactly resembles a
little patch of moss or lichen. Specimens are sometimes noticed in the
middle of winter, so there is little doubt that this species hibernates. It
occurs in spring as late as November, and as the pupæ emerge during the
latter end of January the insect is about for most of the year.


MELANCHRA LITHIAS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra lithias_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 17.)

(Plate IV., fig. 33.)

Two specimens of this species were taken at Castle Hill by Mr. J. D. Enys,
and are now in Mr. Fereday's collection.

  The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. _The fore-wings are slaty-brown;
  there is a broken, black-edged, white, transverse line near the base, and
  another at about one-third; the orbicular is indicated by a conspicuous
  black-edged white crescent, the reniform is large, oblong, white,
  margined with {18}black, and crossed by two grey lines_; there is an
  interrupted white terminal transverse line and a series of black dots on
  the termen. The hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base; the cilia of
  all the wings are slaty-brown.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


MELANCHRA MUTANS, Walk.

  (_Hadena mutans_, Walk., Noct. 602. _H. lignifusca_, ib. 603. _Mamestra
  angusta_, Feld., Reis. Nov., pl. cix. 18. _M. acceptrix_, ib., pl. cix.
  19. _Hadena debilis_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 385, pl. xlii.
  6. _Mamestra mutans_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 17.)

(Plate IV., fig. 34 [M], 35 [F], 36 [M], variety; Plate III., fig. 15,
larva.)

This is a very abundant species throughout the country.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are pale
  reddish-brown in the male, grey in the female; the markings are black and
  somewhat indistinct; the orbicular spot is nearly round, the claviform
  semicircular, the reniform large and not margined with black towards the
  termen; a line runs parallel with the termen, and emits on its outer side
  a tooth-like mark; inside this line the ground colouring of the wing is
  usually lighter. The hind-wings are grey, darker in the male; the cilia
  are white with a cloudy line. The head, thorax, and abdomen are brown in
  the male, grey in the female. The antennæ are slightly bipectinate in the
  male.

This species varies much in the ground colouring of the fore-wings,
especially in the male, where it ranges from pale pinkish-brown to dark
brown. The wings of the female are frequently much clouded with dark grey.

  The larva is rather stout, with the anterior segments wrinkled. It varies
  much in colour; the dorsal surface is usually reddish-brown; the lateral
  line is broad and black; a series of subdorsal stripes are also black;
  the ventral surface is green. Sometimes these markings are hardly
  visible, and the larva is entirely green, whilst occasionally the brown
  colouring predominates.

It is a sluggish caterpillar, and feeds on low plants (_Plantago_, &c.)
during the whole of the spring and summer. It often frequents the luxuriant
growth surrounding logs and stones which have long been left undisturbed.

The pupa state is spent in the earth or amongst moss on fallen trees. When
this stage occurs in the summer it is of short duration, but in the case of
larvæ becoming full grown in the autumn, the regular emergence does not
take place until the following spring.

The moth may be observed on mild evenings nearly all the year round, but is
commoner during the summer. It is an extremely abundant species, and is
very often seen resting on tree trunks during the daytime, in which
position the colouring of both sexes will be seen to be very protective.


MELANCHRA AGORASTIS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra agorastis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 18.)

(Plate V., fig. 30 [F].)

This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Akaroa
and Lake Guyon in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are rich
  reddish-brown_, with dull yellowish-white markings; the claviform is
  small, grey, margined with dark reddish-brown; the orbicular is also
  rather small, grey, margined with dull white; the reniform is rather
  large, oblong, dark grey, margined rather broadly with yellowish-white.
  The hind-wings are dark brown. _The antennæ of the male are shortly
  pectinated._

This species very closely resembles a dark specimen of _Melanchra pelistis_
so far as the female is concerned, which is the only sex I have had an
opportunity of examining.

The perfect insect appears in February and March. It is a scarce species.


{19}MELANCHRA PICTULA, White.

  (_Dianthoecia pictula_, White, Tayl. New Zeal., pl. i. 3. _Meterana
  pictula_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 386, pl. xlii. 1.
  _Mamestra pictula_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 18.)

(Plate IV., fig. 37 [M].)

Three specimens of this handsome species have occurred at Lake Coleridge in
the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are grey, very
  faintly tinged with pink, the markings are yellowish-green margined with
  black, _the reniform is large, oval, clear white, with a minute white dot
  above and below it_, there is a series of conspicuous black-edged yellow
  spots near the termen; the cilia are grey with a series of minute black
  and white dots at their base. _The hind-wings are pale crimson shaded
  with dark grey near the termen_, there is an obscure grey spot near the
  middle; the cilia are grey. The sides of the abdomen are bright crimson.

The moth appears in March.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


MELANCHRA RHODOPLEURA, Meyr.

(_Mamestra rhodopleura_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 19.)

(Plate IV., fig. 38.)

This species has been taken in the North Island at Napier and Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are
  greenish-grey, with the markings yellow margined with black; _the
  hind-wings are dark grey_ with a terminal series of small yellow spots.
  The sides of the abdomen are bright crimson.

This insect is very closely allied to _Melanchra pictula_, _but the absence
of the white reniform spot and the grey hind-wings, will at once
distinguish it from that species_.

The perfect insect appears in May and June. It is decidedly rare.


MELANCHRA MEROPE, n. sp.

(Plate V., fig. 2.)

A single specimen of this handsome insect was taken in the Wellington
Botanical Gardens in October, 1887.

  The expansion of the wings is nearly two inches. _The fore-wings are rich
  chocolate-brown, with yellow markings outlined in very deep brown_; there
  is a rather broad broken transverse line near the base; a yellow blotch
  containing a slender curved brown line, on the dorsum at about
  one-fourth, forming the end of another extremely broken transverse line;
  _the reniform is large, finely outlined with brown towards the base of
  the wing and half filled in with yellow towards the termen; between the
  reniform and the dorsum there is a jagged yellow transverse line_; there
  is a terminal series of dark brown streaks and yellow spots, and the
  termen itself is scalloped; the cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings are
  pale brown, pinkish tinged; there is an obscure terminal line; the cilia
  are brownish-pink. The head and thorax are dark brown, the abdomen pale
  brown, with the crests darker.


MELANCHRA PELISTIS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra pelistis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 20.)

(Plate V., fig. 3 [M], 4 [F].)

This species has occurred at Wellington and at Paikakariki, in the North
Island. In the South Island it has been found at Akaroa and Lake Coleridge.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dull
  ochreous more or less shaded with dark reddish-brown, _especially in the
  vicinity of the transverse lines_; there are several obscure pale marks
  near the base; _the orbicular is grey, margined towards the dorsum with a
  conspicuous white or dull yellow crescentic line; the claviform is small,
  round, dull grey, edged with darker; the reniform is large, darker grey,
  paler towards the costa, margined with {20}white or dull yellow towards
  the base of the wing and termen_; there are two obscure transverse lines,
  the outer one often being slightly toothed towards the termen; sometimes
  there is a terminal series of minute black marks; the cilia are brown.
  The hind-wings are dark grey, with the cilia white.

This species varies considerably in the ground colouring of the fore-wings.
In some specimens the wing is almost entirely rich reddish-brown, whilst in
others this colouring is confined to the vicinity of the stigmata and
transverse lines. Numerous intermediate varieties exist which seem to
connect these two forms.

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It is very
common in the Wellington Botanical Gardens on the white rata blossoms.


MELANCHRA PROTEASTIS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra vitiosa_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 20 (nec Butl.).
_Mamestra proteastis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 45.)

(Plate IV., fig. 40 [M].)

This insect is very common in the neighbourhood of Christchurch.

  The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings are dark
  chocolate-brown; there are several very obscure marks near the base, the
  orbicular and claviform spots are almost invisible, the reniform is pale
  brown with a minute dot above and below it towards the termen, followed
  by a pale, darker-margined, transverse line. The hind-wings are dull
  brownish-grey, with the cilia paler. The female is rather darker in
  colour than the male.

  This is a very obscurely marked insect, closely allied to the next
  species, from which it can only be distinguished with difficulty. _Its
  somewhat smaller size and the two minute white dots on the reniform
  stigma appear to be the most definite characteristics._

The perfect insect appears in May and June.

Described and figured from specimens in Mr. Fereday's collection.


MELANCHRA VITIOSA, Butl.

  (_Apamea vitiosa_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 384, pl. xlii. 3.
  _Mamestra ochthistis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 20. _Mamestra
  vitiosa_, Meyr. Trans. N. Z. Inst., xx. 45.)

(Plate IV., fig. 42; Plate III., fig. 16, larva.)

This is a scarce species in the neighbourhood of Wellington. In
Christchurch it is very common.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. In general colouration it
  closely resembles the preceding insect, but is considerably paler, with
  the markings much more distinct. There are no clear white dots above or
  below the reniform stigma, the orbicular is obliquely oval and rather
  conspicuous, and the claviform is strongly margined with black.

  The larva is rather robust, very pale green above with numerous white
  lines and dots; dark green beneath with yellow dots. In the light part
  there is a triangle of black spots on each segment. The young larva has a
  strong pink lateral line, but in mature specimens this line is confined
  to the anterior and posterior segments only. Length when full grown about
  1¼ inches.

This caterpillar feeds on _Melicope simplex_, and when amongst the foliage
of its food-plant it is extremely hard to detect, owing to its protective
colouring and sluggish habits. The larva is full grown about October.

The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon on the surface of the ground.

The perfect insect appears from November till April.


{21}MELANCHRA DIATMETA, Meyr.[15]

(Plate V., fig. 5.)

This species has occurred at Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are
  reddish-brown; there is a short longitudinal black streak near the base,
  an obscure yellow transverse line at about one-fourth, and several short
  oblique brown or yellow marks on the costa; the orbicular is oval oblique
  outlined very distinctly in yellow; the reniform is white, margined with
  yellow towards the base of the wing; _there is a black longitudinal
  streak at the base on the dorsum, which bends upwards at about
  one-fourth, and runs in a somewhat curved direction to a little above the
  tornus_. The veins are faintly marked in black, and there are several
  large yellow dots between the veins near the termen; the termen itself is
  slightly indented, the cilia are reddish-brown. The hind-wings are
  greyish-brown with the cilia reddish. There are two very conspicuous
  curved yellowish stripes on each side of the thorax.

The perfect insect appears in September and October. It is a rare species.


MELANCHRA TARTAREA, Butl.

(_Graphiphora tartarea_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 384, pl.
xlii. 2. _Mamestra tartarea_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 21.)

(Plate V., fig. 6.)

This species has occurred on the Murimutu Plains in the North Island. In
the South Island it is a common species in the neighbourhood of
Christchurch.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dark
  chocolate-brown; there is a short, dark-margined, pale transverse line
  near the base, and another at about one-third, the claviform spot is
  small, oval, dark brown, margined with black, the orbicular and reniform
  are very large, pale brown and very conspicuous; _there is a broad pale
  brown terminal band, and a narrow shading of pale brown along the
  dorsum_. The hind-wings are dark grey and the cilia dull white.

This species can easily be recognised by the pale terminal band of the
fore-wings.

The perfect insect appears in March and April.


MELANCHRA HOMOSCIA, Meyr.

(_Mamestra homoscia_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 21.)

(Plate V., fig. 7; Plate III., fig. 10, larva.)|.

This dull-looking species has hitherto only occurred in the Wellington
district, where it seems to be fairly common.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are
  uniform dark grey; the veins are marked with a series of white dots,
  preceded and followed by black marks; the orbicular, reniform, and
  claviform spots are scarcely visible; an indistinct wavy line runs
  parallel with the termen. The hind-wings are grey; the cilia are white
  with a cloudy line. The head, thorax, and abdomen are grey.

  Sometimes the grey colouring is very much darker, and a faint wavy line
  is present between the orbicular spot and the base of the wing. In other
  respects the species does not vary.

  The larva is rather attenuated and black in colour; the dorsal line is
  narrow and bright yellow; the subdorsal is broader and white; and the
  lateral line is pale brown. The head, legs, prolegs, and under surface
  are pale brown, speckled with black; the spiracles are pink; a
  conspicuous white spot is situated above the spiracles.

This caterpillar feeds on the Tauhinu (_Pomaderris ericifolia_) in December
and January. It is very active in its habits, and immediately drops to the
ground when disturbed. It is much infested by a dipterous parasite. The
pupa state is spent in the earth and lasts about six weeks.

The moth appears in February, March, and April. It is attracted by light,
and in consequence often enters houses.


{22}MELANCHRA OMICRON, n. sp.

(Plate V., fig. 42.)

This species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. A. Norris.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are pale
  olive-green, mottled and striped with dull grey; there is a double
  transverse line near the base, another at about one-fourth, and another
  at about one-half, passing between the orbicular and the reniform; beyond
  this there are two indistinct shaded lines, and a terminal series of
  black marks; _the orbicular is large, almost circular, and sharply
  outlined in black_; the claviform is small and indistinct, and the
  reniform ill-defined, obscurely outlined in black towards the base. The
  hind-wings are brownish-grey, darker towards the termen.

The perfect insect appears in November.


MELANCHRA COMPOSITA, Gn.

  (_Cloantha composita_, Gn., Noct. vi. 114. _Auchmis composita_, Walk.,
  Noct. 616; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 12. _Mamestra maori_, Feld., Reis.
  Nov., pl. cix. 24. _Leucania dentigera_, Butl. _Mamestra composita_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 22.)

(Plate V., fig. 8 [M], 9 [F]; Plate III., fig. 7, larva.)

One of the most abundant of our night-flying moths, occurring in great
profusion throughout the country.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are pale
  reddish-brown, darker towards the middle. There are two elongate,
  pointed, white markings touching the termen below the middle, and a
  central white streak, interrupted in the middle, by a small semicircular
  white mark, which represents the lower portion of the reniform spot; the
  orbicular and claviform spots are obsolete. The hind-wings are dark grey.
  The head and thorax are reddish-brown, and the abdomen is dark grey. The
  antennæ are serrate in the male but simple in the female. In some
  specimens the white markings are more extensive than usual, but otherwise
  there are no important variations.

  The larva is bright reddish-brown; the dorsal stripe is broad and black;
  the subdorsal narrower, edged with white; the lateral lines are dull red,
  white, and black; the ventral surface, head, legs, and prolegs are
  greenish-grey with black markings; the spiracles are black.

This caterpillar varies considerably in the intensity of the light and dark
markings. It feeds on grasses in January and September, and is very active.
It often occurs in prodigious numbers, and at such times may frequently be
seen travelling at a great rate over bare ground in search of food. Amongst
the grass it is hard to detect, as the striped colouring is very protective
in that situation.

The pupa state is spent in the earth, or under moss on fallen trees.

The moth appears from September till April. It is double-brooded. A few of
the second brood emerge in the autumn and hibernate as moths, but the
majority pass the winter in the pupa state. Hence we sometimes meet with
specimens on mild evenings in the middle of winter.

This insect is much attracted by light, and occasionally assembles in vast
numbers round a brilliant lamp. I have had as many as one hundred specimens
in my verandah at Karori, attracted during two or three hours. It is by far
the commonest insect at the collectors' sugar, the numerous visitors of
this species eagerly jostling each other in their haste to obtain a share
of the sweets. _M. composita_ is likewise observed in the utmost profusion
on attractive flowers of all kinds, crowding out the rarer and more
aristocratic species. Mr. Hanify has drawn my attention to the remarkable
habit this insect has of suddenly stopping {23}during its flight, and thus
eluding pursuit. It also takes wing with unusual rapidity. Specimens of
this moth may constantly be observed at rest in various situations during
the daytime, when the protective character of the colouring will be at once
apparent, especially when the insect is partially concealed amongst grass.
Mr. Meyrick informs us that this species is common in Tasmania and
South-Eastern Australia.


MELANCHRA STEROPASTIS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra steropastis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 22.)

(Plate V., fig. 10 [M], 11 [F].)

This insect has occurred in the North Island at Napier. In the South Island
it has been taken at Blenheim and Christchurch, but does not seem to be a
common species anywhere.

  The expansion of the wings is from 1¼ to 1½ inches. In general appearance
  it somewhat resembles the preceding species, from which it may chiefly be
  distinguished by the absence of the sharp white central line and
  conspicuous tooth-like markings near the termen. _There is also a minute
  white dot situated at the junction of veins 3 and 4 of the fore-wings._
  The hind-wings are dark grey.

The perfect insect appears from November till February.

Described and figured from Mr. Fereday's specimens.


MELANCHRA INFENSA, Walk.

(_Orthosia infensa_, Walk. 748. _Mamestra arachnias_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z.
Inst. xix. 23. _Mamestra infensa_, Meyr., ib. xx. 45.)

(Plate V., fig. 12.)

This species has occurred in the North Island at Napier, and in the South
Island at Blenheim.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are
  reddish-brown, slightly speckled with dull white except on a suffused
  central streak from the base to about two-thirds; an obscure, moderately
  broad white costal streak extends from the base to two-thirds, sharply
  defined near the base only, and containing several very oblique
  ill-defined blackish marks; the orbicular is narrow oval, longitudinal,
  very finely margined with white and then with black; the claviform is
  obsolete; the reniform is only indicated by two white dots, representing
  its lower angles; the transverse lines are very acutely dentate but
  hardly traceable; the subterminal line is indicated only by three very
  acute slender whitish-ochreous dentations--one below apex, two touching
  the termen below the middle; the cilia are reddish-brown mixed with dull
  white. The hind-wings are dark grey; the cilia are dull white, with a
  faint grey line and tips white. The head, palpi, and thorax are
  reddish-brown speckled with white; the forehead with two black transverse
  lines; and the collar with a slender white line; thorax with strong
  anterior double tuft. Abdomen light reddish-grey.

Description compiled from that of Mr. Meyrick. Figured by Mr. W. B. Hudson
from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


MELANCHRA OMOPLACA, Meyr.

(_Mamestra omoplaca_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 24.)

(Plate V., fig. 13.)

This species has occurred in the South Island at Lake Coleridge and Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dark
  reddish-brown, there is a short black median streak from the base,
  margined above with ochreous-white; the space between this and the costa
  is marked with suffused ochreous-whitish lines; in one specimen {24}a
  blackish suffusion extending from base of the dorsum obliquely to
  orbicular and reniform, the space between this and the subterminal line
  is suffused with pale whitish-ochreous; the orbicular and reniform are
  blackish-fuscous, black-margined, and connected by a blackish-fuscous
  spot; the orbicular is large, roundish; the reniform with its outer edge
  white; the claviform is small, suboval, blackish-fuscous; the transverse
  lines are indistinct; the subterminal is obscurely paler or hardly
  traceable, with two somewhat acute dentations below the middle; the
  terminal space is mixed with blackish-fuscous; the cilia are
  reddish-fuscous mixed with blackish. The hind-wings are fuscous-grey; the
  cilia grey-whitish, with a grey line.

The perfect insect appears in December, February, and March.

Description compiled from that of Mr. Meyrick. Figured by Mr. W. B. Hudson
from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


MELANCHRA ALCYONE, n. sp.

(Plate V., fig. 14 [M].)

During the autumn of 1894 several specimens of this interesting species
were captured in the Wellington Botanical Gardens by Mr. A. Norris.

  The expansion of the wings of the [M] is 1-5/8 inches, of the [F] 1½
  inches. The fore-wings of the male are _warm brown, darker towards the
  base_; there is a wavy, white-edged, black, transverse line at about
  one-fifth, followed by a round black spot; _the costa is yellowish, with
  four pairs of short oblique black marks_; the orbicular is large, oval,
  oblique, pale yellowish-brown slightly darker in the middle; the
  claviform is small, obscure, and brownish-black; the reniform is black,
  outlined with dull white; _there is a series of very acute, dull white,
  tooth-like terminal markings_, and the termen itself is slightly
  scalloped; the cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings are grey with a
  series of small dark marks on the termen; the cilia are reddish-ochreous.
  The head and anterior portion of the thorax are reddish-ochreous; the
  rest of the thorax is rich brown, and there is a conspicuous black
  transverse line between the pale and dark colouring; the abdomen is
  reddish-ochreous with the crests reddish-brown. The female is much darker
  and duller than the male, the markings are much less distinct, there are
  several additional jagged transverse lines, and the white markings of the
  male are indistinctly indicated in drab.

The perfect insect appears in March.


MELANCHRA DOTATA, Walk.

(_Dasypolia dotata_, Walk., Noct. 522. _Mamestra dotata_, Meyr., Trans. N.
Z. Inst. xix. 24.)

(Plate V., fig. 16.)

This species has occurred at Nelson.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are very dark
  brownish-black; there are several obscure black marks near the base; _the
  orbicular is large, oblong, finely margined with black, the claviform is
  triangular, also finely margined with black, both orbicular and claviform
  are surrounded by a conspicuous black shading; the reniform is large
  ear-shaped, white towards the termen and dark brown towards the base of
  the wing_, the white portion is traversed by a curved brownish line;
  there is a curved transverse line near the termen, the space immediately
  inside this line being paler than the rest of the wing; there is a
  terminal series of obscure pale dots. The hind-wings are dark brown,
  paler towards the base; the cilia are also brown.

A single specimen of this insect was reared from a pupa found at Wakapuaka,
near Nelson. Mr. Fereday also has a specimen, but without note of locality.


MELANCHRA ASTEROPE, n. sp.

(Plate V., fig. 15.)

A single specimen of this insect was taken at light on the Tableland of
Mount Arthur, in January 1891, at about 3,600 feet above the sea-level.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are dull brown
  _with a pale area on the dorsum near the base, and a very broad pale band
  just before the termen_; there is a broken {25}black-edged transverse
  line near the base, and a fainter transverse line at about one-third; the
  orbicular is oblong, the claviform crescentic, _and the reniform oblong,
  white, and very conspicuous_, all are strongly outlined in black; there
  is a shaded transverse line on each side of the broad pale terminal band;
  the termen is dark brown; the cilia are brown, and the veins are marked
  in black. The hind-wings are pale grey; there is a rather conspicuous
  dark crescent in the middle, and two shaded transverse lines; the cilia
  are grey.

This species is evidently allied to _Melanchra dotata_.


MELANCHRA STIPATA, Walk.

(_Xylina stipata_, Walk., Suppl. 753. _Mamestra stipata_, Meyr., Trans. N.
Z. Inst. xix. 25.)

(Plate V., fig. 17 [F].)

This fine species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and in
the South Island at Christchurch, and West Plains, near Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are brown; there
  is a shaded, pale yellowish-brown, longitudinal line on the costa, _and
  an extensive irregular patch of the same colour from about two-thirds to
  within a short distance of the termen; the orbicular is large, oval,
  oblique, pale yellowish-brown; the claviform is semicircular, broadly
  margined with black_; the reniform is dull grey, with one large and one
  small white mark towards the termen; the termen is broadly shaded with
  dark blackish-brown, except near the apex of the wing and a little below
  the middle. The hind-wings are dark brownish-grey, with the cilia
  reddish-brown. The female is rather paler with a slightly olive tinge.
  Both sexes vary a little in the depth of their colouring.

The perfect insect appears from October till May. It is common at
Christchurch, but rather scarce in Wellington.


MELANCHRA OCTANS, n. sp.

(Plate V., fig. 1.)

This distinctly marked little species was discovered by Mr. Philpott, at
Mount Linton, near Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are pale
  ochreous-brown; there are several wavy brown transverse lines near the
  base, two lines at about one-third, _then a large_ V-_shaped white mark
  extending almost from the costa and touching the dorsum_; the orbicular
  and reniform spots are situated in the middle of this mark, the orbicular
  is very finely outlined in brown, and contains a black dot towards the
  base of the wing; the reniform is large, dark brown, _surrounded by a
  large triangular dark brown shading_; there is an obscure subterminal
  line; the termen is slightly indented. The hind-wings are dark brown,
  paler towards the termen.

This species may be immediately recognised by the large, white, V-shaped
markings on the fore-wings.

The perfect insect appears in March.


MELANCHRA RUBESCENS, Butl.

(_Xylophasia rubescens_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 489. _Mamestra rubescens_,
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 25.)

(Plate V., fig. 18 [M].)

This insect is apparently a mountain species. It has been taken at Mount
Arthur, Castle Hill, and Lake Wakatipu.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are pale
  orange-brown, the orbicular and claviform spots are faintly margined with
  reddish-brown; the reniform is dark brown and very conspicuous; there are
  two large reddish-brown markings on the termen. The hind-wings are dark
  grey tinged with red. The cilia of all the wings are reddish-brown.

This species varies slightly in the shape and extent of the markings on the
termen {26}of the fore-wings, which occasionally cause the pale ground
colour to form tooth-like projections. It also varies a little in the
intensity of the other markings, and in the depth of the ground colour.

The moth appears in January and February, and is attracted by light. I have
taken it in some abundance on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at an altitude
of 3,500 feet above the sea-level.


MELANCHRA LIGNANA, Walk.

(_Hadena lignana_, Walk., Noct. 758. ? _Xylophasia morosa_, Butl., Cist.
Ent. ii. 543. _Mamestra lignana_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 26.)

(Plate V., fig. 19 [M].)

This pretty species is very common at Wellington in the North Island. In
the South Island it has occurred at Mount Hutt.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  greyish-cream-colour_, slightly paler on the costa. There are two very
  distinct blackish transverse marks on the costa near the base, and two
  others at about one-third; _the stigmata are all sharply and finely
  outlined in black; the orbicular is oval, the claviform triangular, the
  reniform large and oblong, containing a smaller black-edged mark in its
  centre, and a blackish blotch towards its lower margin_; beyond the
  reniform there is a faint jagged transverse line; there are two dark
  patches on the termen, _the pale ground colour forming two sharp
  tooth-like markings slightly below the middle_; the termen itself is
  slightly indented, and the cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings are dark
  grey with the cilia white.

Some specimens of this insect are slightly darker than others, but in other
respects there are no important variations.

The perfect insect appears from October till April. It comes freely to
sugar and to light, and is often taken at rest on trees and fences in the
daytime.


MELANCHRA COELENO, n. sp.

(Plate IV., fig. 39.)

This interesting species has been taken at Wellington by Messrs. Hawthorne
and Norris.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are very pale
  brownish-cream-colour; _there is a large irregular dark brown patch on
  the dorsum from about one-eighth to about two-thirds, another smaller
  patch at the tornus, and another still smaller on the termen a little
  above the middle_; there are two very obscure transverse lines; the
  orbicular is finely outlined in brown; the reniform contains two very
  dark brown dots, and is rather strongly outlined in brown towards the
  base. The hind-wings are dark grey. The cilia of all the wings are grey
  with a paler line.

The perfect insect appears in November.


MELANCHRA USTISTRIGA, Walk.

(_Xylina ustistriga_, Walk., Noct. 630. _X. lignisecta_, ib., 631.
_Mamestra ustistriga_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 26.)

(Plate V., fig. 20 [M], 20A [F].)

This beautiful insect has occurred commonly at Wellington in the North
Island, and in the South Island, at Blenheim, Christchurch, and Lake
Coleridge.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings, head, and
  thorax are pinkish-grey in the male, pale grey in female; the orbicular
  spot is rather large, nearly round, finely outlined in black; the
  reniform is very large, margined with black towards the base of the wing,
  and usually touching the orbicular spot or connected with it by a short
  black line_; the claviform is triangular, also black margined; there is a
  cloudy oblique line below the reniform, and an irregular line between the
  reniform and the termen. The hind-wings and abdomen are pale pinkish-grey
  in male, dull grey in female; the cilia are white with a cloudy line.

{27}This insect varies slightly in size, especially in the female. The
larva is dull greyish-brown, with the subdorsal and lateral lines darker.
It feeds on honeysuckle during the summer months.

The pupa state is spent in the earth.

The moth is very irregular in its appearance. I have captured specimens in
January, February, March, April, July and September. It appears to pass the
winter in both the pupa and imago states. It is very partial to light, and
in consequence often enters houses.


MELANCHRA PRIONISTIS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra prionistis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 27.)

(Plate V., fig. 21 [M].)

This species is common at Wellington in the North Island. In the South
Island it has been taken at Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-5/8 inches, of the female 1¾
  inches. _The fore-wings are rather pale yellowish-brown, with numerous
  irregular longitudinal grey streaks_; there are several very obscure
  jagged transverse lines, and the stigmata are almost invisible; _a very
  broad blackish longitudinal band is situated on the dorsum_. The
  hind-wings are brownish-grey; the cilia are grey tipped with white. The
  head and thorax are grey tinged with yellowish-brown; there is a
  conspicuous blackish streak on each side of the thorax.

In this species the dorsal band is often considerably paler, but otherwise
there is no variation.

The perfect insect appears from November till April. It comes freely to
sugar, and occasionally to light. It is also sometimes met with at rest on
trees in the daytime, where its colouring is protective. I have noticed
that this moth is much commoner in some years than in others.


MELANCHRA PHRICIAS, Meyr.

(_Mamestra temperata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 27 (nee Walk.).
_Mamestra phricias_, Meyr., ib., xx. 46.)

(Plate V., fig. 22.)

This species has occurred in the Manawatu district in the North Island. In
the South Island it has been found at Christchurch and Lake Coleridge.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are pale
  silvery-grey_; there are several obscure blackish marks near the base,
  _two dark, shaded, transverse bands, one just before the orbicular, and
  one between the orbicular and the reniform_; the orbicular is round,
  nearly white, with a faint greyish ring in the middle; the reniform is
  large, oblong, margined first with white and then with black; there is a
  series of black crescentic marks near the termen, and another smaller
  series on the termen; the cilia are dark grey. The hind-wings are dull
  brownish-grey, the cilia are grey tipped with white. The terminal joint
  of the palpi is elongated.

The perfect insect has been taken in December, February, March and June,
and is attracted by light. It is rather a rare species.


MELANCHRA CUCULLINA, Gn.

  (_Xylocampa cucullina_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 40. Agrotis mitis, Butl.,
  Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 383, pl. xlii. 5. _Mamestra cucullina_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 28.)

(Plate V., fig. 23 [M].)

This species has occurred at Mount Arthur, and at Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings are
  bluish-grey, speckled and dappled with blackish-brown_; there is a pale
  transverse line near the base, partially edged with black; the orbicular
  is round, containing a blackish dot in the middle; the reniform is
  elongate-oval, including a {28}dark spot in its lower portion; the space
  surrounding the stigmata is clouded with dark blackish-brown; there is a
  terminal series of small blackish crescentic marks, and the cilia are
  dark grey. The hind-wings are brownish-grey; the cilia are also grey
  tipped with white.

This species is evidently closely allied to _M. phricias, but may at
present be distinguished by its darker and more bluish colouring_.

The perfect insect appears in January and March. I have taken it at light
on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at 3,600 feet above the sea-level.


Genus 8.--ERANA, Walk.

  "Eyes hairy. Antennæ in male filiform, simple, with scattered single
  cilia. Thorax with anterior and posterior crests. Abdomen with strong
  dorsal crests towards base. Fore-wings in male beneath with a very long
  dense tuft of scent-giving hairs from base; transverse vein absent, 7 and
  8 out of 9, 10 free. Hind-wings with transverse vein absent, costa in
  male broadly dilated."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II., fig. 9 fore-wing, 10
  hind-wing.)[16]


We have one species representing this interesting genus.


ERANA GRAMINOSA, Walk.

(_Erana graminosa_, Walk., Noct. 605. _E. vigens_, ib., Suppl. 743. _Erana
graminosa_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 28.)

(Plate V., fig. 24 [M], 25 [F]; Plate III., fig. 8, larva.)

This beautiful species appears to be fairly common in many forests in the
North Island. It has occurred at Wanganui, Masterton, Palmerston, and
Wellington. In the South Island it has been taken by Mr. Philpott, at West
Plains, near Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are bright
  green; there are three paler green transverse lines, edged with black;
  one near the base of the wing, one just beyond the reniform spot, and one
  close to the termen; this last is inwardly much clouded with dark
  olive-green; the reniform spot is pale green edged with black. The
  hind-wings are very broad, pinkish-brown, tinged with green on the
  termen. In the female the hind-wings are considerably narrower, and are
  not so strongly tinged with green as in the male.

Some specimens appear to be rather darker than others, but beyond this I
have not detected any variation.

The eggs are rather large, globular, flattened above and beneath, and pale
green in colour.

The larva feeds on the mahoe (_Melicytus ramiflorus_).

  When first excluded from the egg it is about 1/8 inch long, and of a very
  pale green colour. After the first moult the caterpillar is bright green,
  darker towards the head, with white dorsal, subdorsal, and lateral lines;
  there are eight rows of shining black spots, each spot emitting a number
  of stout black bristles; the head is yellowish-brown with a few black
  dots. After the last moult the larva has a totally different appearance.
  It is pale green marbled with darker green; there is often a whitish
  lateral line, and an obscure series of diagonal green stripes on the
  sides of each segment. Sometimes the whole larva has a pinkish-brown
  tinge, and there are often two or three rows of pale spots. In fact the
  full-grown caterpillar is very variable in its colouring.

These larvæ hibernate during the winter months, often secreting themselves
in the burrows which have been made in the stems of the mahoe by various
species of wood-boring insects. They come abroad about the end of August,
and are full grown early in October. The pupa state is spent in the earth.

The moth appears in December, January, February, March and April. It is
often {29}found at rest on tree-trunks in the daytime, where its beautiful
green colouring causes it to resemble, in the closest possible manner, a
patch of moss. Mr. Hawthorne tells me that he has frequently found dead
specimens in this situation.

This insect is, I think, commoner at slight elevations above the sea-level,
forest ranges of from 500 to 1,000 feet in height being apparently the most
favourable localities for the species. The appearance of the moth over so
long a period would seem to indicate that there are two generations in a
year, but I have never found full-grown larvæ in the middle of summer.
There is, however, no doubt that the insect passes the winter in the larval
condition. This species is often met with very late in the season,
frequenting the few remaining blossoms of the white rata until the first or
second week in April. Mr. Meyrick thus alludes to the scented tuft of hairs
in the male insect: "The large tuft of the fore-wings is the source of a
very strong vanilla-like perfume, which scents the box in which the
specimens are contained for more than a week after their death; the scent
is excited more strongly, even in the dead specimen, by stirring the tuft
with a pin."[17]

I can fully testify to the accuracy of this interesting observation.


Sub-family 3.--_CARADRINIDES_.

  "Eyes naked, not ciliated."


Genus 9.--BITYLA, Walk.

  "Antennæ in male filiform, shortly ciliated. Thorax not crested, collar
  sub-erect. Abdomen not crested."--(Meyrick).

Of this genus we have two species in New Zealand.


BITYLA DEFIGURATA, Walk.

(_Xylina defigurata_, Walk., Suppl. 756. _Bityla thoracica_, ib. 869.
_Bityla defigurata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 31.)

(Plate V., fig. 33.)

This species has been taken at Palmerston in the North Island, and at
Blenheim, Christchurch, Lake Coleridge, Dunedin, and West Plains near
Invercargill, in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are uniform dull
  bronzy-brown and very glossy_; there are one or two faint indications of
  transverse lines. The hind-wings are dark grey, also glossy.

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March, and is
attracted by light. The single specimen I possess in my collection was
taken in July, evidently hibernating. It is a rare species.


BITYLA SERICEA, Butl.

(_Bityla sericea_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 387, pl. xlii. 12;
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 31.)

(Plate V., fig. 34.)

This rather striking insect has occurred at Wellington in the North Island,
and at Christchurch and Lake Guyon in the South Island.

  {30}The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings are
  very dark greyish-black, darker near the termen, and very glossy_; there
  are several isolated white scales towards the base of the wing, and a
  very obscure transverse line at about three-fourths; the cilia are cream
  colour and very conspicuous. The hind-wings are dark grey and glossy;
  _the cilia are pale grey, very broadly tipped with cream colour_.

The perfect insect appears in February and March, and is attracted by
light. It is a rather scarce species.


Genus 10.--AGROTIS, Ochs.

  Head rough-scaled; eyes naked. Antennæ in [M] ciliated, often acutely
  bidentate or bipectinated, with apex simple. Thorax usually with more or
  less developed anterior and posterior crests. Abdomen not crested. Tibiæ
  all spinose.

"A very large genus occurring all over the world but much more plentifully
in the northern hemisphere. The larvæ are very indiscriminate in their
tastes, often feeding on almost any low plant; they are frequently
subterranean in habit, but usually emerge by night to feed."--(Meyrick.)

This genus is represented in New Zealand by five species, one of which is
an insect of almost world-wide distribution.


AGROTIS YPSILON, Rott.

(_Noctua ypsilon_, Rott. Agrotis suffusa, Hb. _Agrotis ypsilon_, Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 32.)

(Plate V., fig. 35 [M], 36 [F].)

This handsome insect is probably very common throughout the country. It has
occurred abundantly at Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Ashburton
and Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is 2 inches. The fore-wings are pale brown,
  shaded with rich brown on the costa and termen; the reniform is large and
  black, with a conspicuous longitudinal streak pointing towards the
  termen; the orbicular is round, centred with black; the claviform is
  elongate; there is a dark shaded line below the reniform, followed by a
  double wavy transverse black line. The hind-wings are grey with pinkish
  reflections; they are shaded with darker grey towards the termen; the
  cilia are white, the head and thorax are dark brown, the abdomen grey. In
  the female the brown costal shading extends across the central portions
  of the fore-wings to the dorsum, and the general colouring is also
  darker.

There are no noteworthy variations in either sex. The larva feeds on the
roots of grasses. Its head is pale brown mottled with darker brown, and its
body is lead-colour with darker dorsal and lateral lines. It remains
underground during the daytime, coming abroad at night to feed.

The pupa is red-brown with a very sharp, spine-like extremity. It is
concealed in the earth.[18]

The perfect insect appears in January, February and March. It is often very
abundant at various blossoms in the evening, and comes readily to sugar. It
is an insect of almost universal distribution, occurring in Australia,
China, India, Africa, Europe, and North and South America.[19]


{31}AGROTIS ADMIRATIONIS, Gn.

(_Agrotis admirationis_, Gn. (nec Meyrick), Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 38.)

(Plate V., fig. 37.)

This species has been taken at Christchurch.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are dull grey;
  there are two minute black marks on the costa near the base, a slender
  interrupted transverse line at about one-third, _the orbicular, reniform,
  and claviform spots are very large and conspicuous, surrounded by a dark
  grey shading_; there is a series of black dots on the termen. The
  hind-wings are pale grey. The cilia of all the wings are also pale grey.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. I am
assured by Mr. Fereday that the above-described insect is the true _Agrotis
admirationis_ of Guenée, described from an identical specimen which he
forwarded to Guenée. The following species, which is regarded by Mr.
Meyrick as _Agrotis admirationis_, Gn. (see Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 33), is
therefore renamed as below.


AGROTIS INNOMINATA, n. sp.

(_Agrotis admirationis_, Meyr. (nec Guenée), Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 33.)

(Plate V., fig. 39 [M].)

Two specimens of this species have been taken at Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are pale
  pinkish-yellow; there is a slender black longitudinal streak on the costa
  at the base, _a broad black longitudinal streak at the base near the
  middle, and another a little beyond the base above the middle, containing
  the orbicular and reniform stigmata, these are sharply outlined in
  pinkish-yellow_; there are several rather indistinct black streaks
  between the veins, and a series of terminal black dots; the cilia are
  dull pinkish-yellow. The hind-wings are dull white; there is a series of
  brownish terminal dots, and the veins are marked in brown; _the cilia are
  shining white_. The head and thorax are pinkish-brown; the latter has two
  transverse black lines near the head, and two longitudinal black streaks
  on each side. The abdomen is dull white tipped with pale brown.

One specimen of this insect is considerably tinged with very pale
olive-green instead of pink, but it is otherwise identical. As the
available material is so extremely limited, I am unable to say which is the
typical form.

The perfect insect appears in December. I am indebted to Messrs. J. H.
Lewis and W. R. Morris for my specimens.


AGROTIS SERICEA, Butl.

  (_Chersotis sericea_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 490. _C. inconspicua_, ib.
  545. _Agrotis sericea_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 33. _A.
  inconspicua_, ib. 34. _Agrotis sericea_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx.
  46.)

(Plate V., fig. 38 [F].)

This species has occurred in the South Island at Christchurch, Rakaia, and
Ashburton.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings vary from
  very pale grey to dark blackish-grey; there is an obscure transverse line
  near the base, and another at about one-fourth; _the orbicular is oval
  and dark centred, the claviform is elongate, often very obscure, the
  reniform is broad dark centred, usually joined to the orbicular by a dark
  patch_; all the stigmata are outlined in black; beyond the reniform there
  is a rather jagged transverse line, and _several faint wedge-shaped
  markings_; there is a series of minute elongate black marks on the
  termen; the cilia are grey with three dark lines. The hind-wings are grey
  with several fine black marks on the termen; the cilia are white.

This species seems to be rather variable both in ground colour and in
markings.

The perfect insect appears in October, November, December and January. It
is not a common species.


{32}AGROTIS CEROPACHOIDES, Gn.

(_Agrotis ceropachoides_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 39; Meyr., Trans. N. Z.
Inst. xix. 34.)

(Plate VI., fig. 1.)

This species has occurred at Rakaia.

  The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are bluish-grey,
  dotted and streaked with darker grey; there are no distinct markings_,
  except an obscure transverse shading near the termen, and a series of
  dull terminal spots; _the costa is slightly concave_. The hind-wings are
  grey, paler towards the base, with a dark line on the termen; the cilia
  of all the wings are grey.

The perfect insect appears in July, August and September.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.


Genus 11.--HELIOTHIS, Ochs.

  "Head rough-scaled; eyes naked. Antennæ in [M] ciliated. Thorax without
  crest. Abdomen not crested. Tibiæ spinose, anterior tibiæ with horny
  apical hook.

"A rather small genus, but very generally distributed, though commoner in
subtropical regions; it is a development of _Caradrina_; some of the
species have a very wide natural range. The larvæ feed especially on the
blossoms of their food-plants."--(Meyrick.)

This genus is represented in New Zealand by the world-wide _Heliothis
armigera_.


HELIOTHIS ARMIGERA, Hb.

(_Heliothis armigera_, Hb. _H. conferta_, Walk., Noct. 690. _H. armigera_,
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 34.)

(Plate V., fig. 40 [M], 41 [F].)

This species has occurred plentifully at Waimarama (Hawkes Bay) and
Wellington, in the North Island; and at Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch,
Rakaia, and Ashburton in the South Island. In Wellington it is certainly
not so common as formerly, and Mr. Meyrick observes that its abundance is
declining in some other localities also.

  The expansion of the wings is from 1½ to 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are
  pale yellowish-brown, sometimes tinged with red. There is an irregular
  band of dull grey or brown near the termen; _the reniform is small and
  black; the orbicular minute, also black; the claviform is obsolete_;
  there are several very indistinct traces of transverse lines towards the
  base of the wing. The hind-wings are dull yellow, _with a very broad,
  blackish, terminal band_. The head and thorax are yellowish-brown, and
  the abdomen is dull yellow.

This insect varies a good deal in the ground colouring of the fore-wings,
which ranges from dull yellow to brick-red, or even to dark
yellowish-brown. The hind-wings are also much darker in some specimens than
in others.

The larva feeds on the seeds and flowers of various plants. It is extremely
variable in its colouring.

  Some specimens are dull green, with a few obscure red spots on the sides
  of the anterior segments. Others are brownish-black, with many fine
  yellow stripes and dots, and the red spots confined to the three anterior
  segments. Others, again, have numerous olive-green, white, and pale green
  lines, with a reddish blotch on the side of nearly every segment.

This caterpillar is often rather destructive in gardens. Amongst other
things, it devours tomatoes and peas, the flowers and young fruit of
pumpkins and vegetable marrows, the flowers and leaves of geraniums,
veronicas, &c. It is full grown in the autumn.

The pupa is concealed in the earth, the insect remaining in this condition
until the following summer.

{33}The moth appears in January and February. It often flies by day, and
may then be seen disporting itself amongst the flowers of the Scotch
thistle. Its larva may also be found feeding on these flowers.

This insect is practically cosmopolitan; it has occurred in the following
countries: Australia, Samoa, India, Ceylon, Madagascar, Africa, Europe,
North and South America.[20]


Genus 12.--COSMODES, Gn.

  "Eyes naked. Antennæ in male filiform, shortly ciliated. Thorax with
  strong transverse anterior and posterior crests. Abdomen strongly crested
  towards base. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 short-stalked."--(Meyrick.)

We have only one species in New Zealand.


COSMODES ELEGANS, Don.

(_Phalæna elegans_, Don. Ins. N. H. _Cosmodes elegans_, Gn., Noct. vi. 290;
Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 35.)

(Plate VI., fig. 2.)

This beautiful species has occurred at Napier and Ohau in the North Island.
In the South Island it has been taken at Christchurch and Governor's Bay.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-1/8 inches. The fore-wings are rich
  orange-brown, with _four large green spots margined with silver_; there
  is a curved silvery mark near the apex. The hind-wings are pale yellow,
  shaded with orange-brown towards the termen; the cilia are pale
  orange-brown mixed with white.

The perfect insect appears in March and April.

Mr. Meyrick states that it occurs commonly in Eastern Australia.[21]


Family 3.--PLUSIADÆ.

The _Plusiadæ_ are characterized as follows:--

  "Ocelli usually distinct. Tongue well developed. Posterior tibiæ with all
  spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 usually out of 9, 10 usually
  connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 connate or short-stalked,
  5 well developed, 6 and 7 connate or short-stalked or seldom closely
  approximated only, 8 shortly anastomosing with cell near base, thence
  evenly diverging." (See Plate II., figs. 14 to 18.)

"This family is by no means very prominent in temperate regions, but within
the tropics it assumes immense proportions, and is there, probably, the
most abundant family of the Lepidoptera. There is much greater diversity of
size, colour, and form than in the _Caradrinidæ_, and also more variation
in structure, though this remains more uniform than usual. Imago with
fore-wings usually relatively broader and less elongate than in the
_Caradrinidæ_, body often more slender.

"Ovum spherical, more or less reticulated, often also ribbed. Larva with
few hairs, sometimes with prolegs on segments 7 and 8 absent or
rudimentary. Pupa usually in a cocoon above the ground."--(Meyrick.)

The family is represented in New Zealand by the following four genera:--

  Sub-family 1.--HYPENIDES  1. HYPENODES.

                           {2. PLUSIA.
  Sub-family 2.--PLUSIADES {3. DASYPODIA.
                           {4. RHAPSA.


{34}Sub-family 1.--_HYPENIDES_.

Vein 5 of hind-wings parallel to 4.


Genus 1.--HYPENODES, Gn.

  Head loosely scaled, with small frontal tuft. Antennæ in [M] ciliated.
  Palpi very long, porrected, second joint thickened with rough projecting
  scales, terminal rather short, cylindrical. Thorax with appressed scales.
  Abdomen with small crest near base. Tibiæ smooth-scaled. Fore-wings with
  vein 7 separate, 9 and 10 out of 8. Hind-wings with vein 5 parallel to 4.

"Although consisting of very few species, this genus is almost universally
distributed. Imago with fore-wings unusually elongate. Larva without
prolegs on segments 7 and 8."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species in New Zealand.


HYPENODES EXSULARIS, Meyr.

(_Hypenodes exsularis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 46.)

  "_Male._--16 mm. (about ¾ inch). Head, antennæ, thorax, and abdomen
  whitish-ochreous, brownish-tinged; abdominal crest black. Palpi dark
  fuscous. Legs dark fuscous, posterior pair whitish-ochreous. Fore-wings
  elongate, posteriorly gradually dilated, costa slightly arched, termen
  obliquely rounded; ochreous-brown, closely irrorated with rather dark
  fuscous; a black mark beneath costa at base; a cloudy blackish
  longitudinal mark in disc beyond middle; second line obscurely indicated,
  paler, anteriorly partly blackish-edged, from posterior extremity of
  discal mark to dorsum beyond middle; an oblique wedge-shaped white spot
  from apex, touching second line; a sub-terminal series of white dots; a
  terminal row of black dots; cilia fuscous, with a basal series of
  whitish-ochreous dots. Hind-wings pale whitish-grey; a grey transverse
  discal spot; a dark grey interrupted terminal line; cilia grey-whitish.

  "Taranaki, in March; one specimen.

"In the British Museum is an unnamed specimen from China, which appears to
be certainly the same species; it, therefore, probably ranges through many
of the South Pacific islands. From its small size and inconspicuous
appearance it is doubtless often overlooked."--(Meyrick.)


Sub-family 2.--_PLUSIADES_.

Vein 5 of hind-wings more or less approximated to 4.


Genus 2.--PLUSIA, Ochs.

  "Head rough-scaled. Antennæ in [M] very shortly ciliated. Palpi rather
  long, curved, ascending, second joint rough-scaled, terminal moderately
  long or short, more or less rough-scaled in front, somewhat pointed.
  Thorax with large central or posterior crest. Abdomen with one or more
  crests. Tibiæ rough-scaled. Hind-wings with vein 5 more or less
  approximated to 4." (Plate II., figs. 14 and 15.)

"A considerable genus, occurring throughout the world. Most of the imagos
are handsome insects, often with metallic markings; some of them fly
actively in bright sunshine. Larva usually without prolegs on segments 7
and 8, segment 12 more or less prominent above. Pupa in a rather open
cocoon."--(Meyrick.)

This genus is represented in New Zealand by a single and very widely
distributed species.


{35}PLUSIA CHALCITES, Esp.

  (_Plusia criosoma_, Dbld., Dieff. N. Z. 285; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. x. 1,
  2. _P. argentifera_, Gn., Noct. vi. 352. _P. eriosoma_, Meyr., Trans. N.
  Z. Inst. xix. 36.)

(Plate VI., fig. 3 [M].)

This insect is probably generally distributed in the North Island, and in
the northern portions of the South Island. It has occurred very commonly at
Taranaki, Napier, and Nelson, but in Wellington it is rather a scarce
species.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dark
  grey with bronzy reflections; there is a pale band on the termen, and
  several of the transverse lines are indicated by paler colouring, the two
  basal ones being often silvery; _the orbicular is partly outlined with
  golden-white, and the claviform is wholly filled in with the same
  colour_. The hind-wings are yellowish-grey, darker towards the termen.

Mr. Meyrick mentions a variety in which the characteristic golden-white
discal spots on the fore-wings are absent. I have not yet had the good
fortune to see this form, and think it must be a rare one.

The larva has twelve legs; it is much attenuated towards the head; its
colour is pale green, darker on the back; there is a number of wavy white
lines and dots on the larva, as well as a few isolated black dots and
hairs. It feeds on geraniums, mint, bean, Scotch thistle, and many other
garden plants and weeds. Its original food appears to have been the "potato
plant" (_Solarium aviculare_); but now it only occurs on this shrub in
uncultivated localities, where there is no European vegetation.

The pupa is enclosed in a cocoon of white silk, generally situated between
two dead leaves on or near the ground.

The moth first appears about September, and continues abundant until the
end of summer. In Nelson I have seen it in great profusion, hovering over
various flowers in the evening, at which time it also occasionally
endeavours to gain access to beehives. In the same locality I have met with
the young larvæ in the middle of winter, so that there is probably a
continuous succession of broods all the year through in favourable
situations.

This insect is found in Australia, Pacific Islands, Africa, South Asia,
South Europe, and occasionally in the South of England.[22]




Genus 3.--DASYPODIA, Gn.

  "Eyes naked. Palpi with terminal joint very slender. Antennæ in male
  filiform, hardly pubescent. Thorax and abdomen not crested. Tarsi in male
  very much thickened, with dense scales (_teste Guenée_)."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species.


DASYPODIA SELENOPHORA, Gn.

(_Dasypodia selenophora_, Gn., Noct. vii. 175; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst.
xix. 38.)

(Plate VI., fig. 4.)

This large and very handsome insect has occurred at Auckland, Napier, and
Wellington in the North Island, and at Nelson, Richmond, and Christchurch,
in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is about 3 inches. _The fore-wings are very
  rich deep brown_; there are two faint jagged transverse lines near the
  base, a straight shaded line at about one-third; _the reniform is very
  large, crescentic, steely blue, finely margined first with black, then
  with orange, and {36}then again with black; the centre of the crescent is
  filled in with black; beyond this spot there are three fine black wavy
  transverse lines emitting three very sharp teeth between the reniform and
  the dorsum_; there is a faint shaded line near the termen. The hind-wings
  are rich brown, slightly paler than the fore-wings; there are three
  shaded, wavy, transverse lines. The termen of both wings is slightly
  scalloped with a minute bluish-white dot at each indentation; the cilia
  are dark brown.

The life-history is thus described by Mr. Colenso:--

  The larva when full grown is about 3¾ inches in length, elongate,
  slightly thicker in the middle, and with the skin smooth. It is
  ash-colour, speckled with minute points of black and red; two minute
  carmine spots are situated close together on its back; and, when in
  motion, two large triangular black splashes are also visible. The under
  side of the larva is dull white, with several dull olive spots
  corresponding to its ventral prolegs. Its head is small, and pale Indian
  yellow in colour; its anal and ventral prolegs are large; on being
  touched the caterpillar coils itself up very rapidly and closely.

The specimen from which Mr. Colenso's description was taken, was found at
rest on the trunk of a large acacia-tree, which is probably the food-plant
of the larva.

The pupa is enclosed in a cocoon formed of leaves fastened together with
silk. The insect appears to remain in this condition for about two months.

The pupa-case (after emergence) is nearly cylindrical, very obtuse at the
head, and tapering regularly downwards from the end of the wing-cases, with
the tail conical; the abdominal segments are very strongly marked. Its
colour is dark red, with a bluish or violet bloom, but smooth and shining
on its prominent parts.[23]

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March, but it is
rather a scarce species. It is attracted by light, and thus occasionally
enters houses, where specimens are generally captured. Mr. Meyrick states
that this insect occurs commonly in Eastern Australia.[24]


Genus 4.--RHAPSA.

  "Eyes naked. Palpi very long, obliquely ascending, loosely rough-scaled
  throughout, second joint with dense long projecting tuft above towards
  apex, terminal joint moderate, Antennæ in male moderately bipectinated,
  apex simple. Thorax and abdomen not crested. Fore-wings in male beneath
  with large broad costal fold on anterior half."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II.,
  figs. 16 and 17 neuration of [M] _Rhapsa scotosialis_; fig. 18 head of
  ditto.)

We have two species.


RHAPSA SCOTOSIALIS, Walk.

  (_Rhapsa scotosialis_, Walk., Suppl. 1150. _Herminia lilacina_, Butl.,
  Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, pl. xlii. 11. _Rhapsa scotosialis_, Meyr.,
  Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 38.)

(Plate VI., fig. 5 [M], 6 [F].)

This remarkable species is extremely abundant and generally distributed
throughout the country.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings have the
  costa considerably arched towards the apex, and the termen is bowed
  outwards in the middle_; the colour is pale brown in the male and dark
  brown in the female; there are several obscure black marks near the base;
  _the orbicular is very small, orange or pale grey outlined in black, the
  claviform is absent, the reniform is conspicuous, the outer edge is much
  indented, the inner edge is outlined with dull orange-red_, there is a
  black blotch between the orbicular and the reniform; beyond the reniform
  there is a curved transverse line enveloping a series of minute black
  dots, then a very conspicuous wavy transverse line shaded towards the
  base of the wing; _there is a pale triangular area at the apex_, and a
  series of small crescentic dark brown markings on the termen; the cilia
  are dark brown. The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous; there is a rather
  faint line across the middle, followed by a broad shade; a series of
  {37}small crescentic marks is situated on the termen; the cilia are dark
  greyish-ochreous. _The antennæ of the male are strongly bipectinated. The
  female is considerably darker, the markings are less distinct and
  numerous, and there is no black blotch between the orbicular and the
  reniform._

  Some male specimens are much paler in colour than others, but with this
  exception there does not appear to be any important variation.

  The eggs are round, flattened above, bright green, becoming dull purplish
  about two days after being laid.

  The young larva when first emerged is about 1/8 inch in length; the head
  is brown; the body dull white, with a series of black tubercles round
  each segment, each tubercle emitting a tuft of bristles. The larva has
  sixteen legs, but the two anterior pairs of ventral claspers are not
  employed in walking, the caterpillar's mode of progression, consequently,
  resembling that of a larva with twelve legs only. The food-plant is
  _Piper excelsum_.

The perfect insect appears from September till April, and is very common
amongst undergrowth in the forest. It is seldom found in the daytime, but
at night it is extremely abundant in densely wooded situations. It flies in
a very stealthy manner, and may soon be recognised on the wing by this
feature alone. When disturbed it always secretes itself amongst dead fern
fronds or other vegetable refuse, where its sombre colour effectually
conceals it.

The costal fold on the under side of the fore-wing of the male contains a
very large tuft of extremely long hairs. It probably emits a scent
agreeable to the female.


RHAPSA OCTIAS. Meyr.

(_Hyperaucha octias_, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1897, 383.)

(Plate VI., fig. 7.)

This interesting little species has recently occurred in some numbers in
the neighbourhood of Wellington. I have no record at present of its capture
in any other New Zealand locality.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings have the costa
  straight, and the termen with a large projection slightly above the
  middle; the colour is pale brown; _there is a broad dark brown patch on
  the costa at the base_, a jagged transverse line at about one-fourth, _a
  very broad, oblique, blackish-brown, oblong patch on the costa at about
  one-third; beyond this patch is situated the reniform which is very
  large, indented towards the termen where it is outlined in dark brown_;
  there is a very fine jagged transverse line from beneath the reniform to
  the dorsum; _a large irregular patch of dark brownish-black just before
  the apex_, and an obscure transverse line; there is a series of minute,
  dark brown, crescentic marks on the termen. The hind-wings are dull
  whitish-grey; there is a faint blackish dot in the middle, a wavy line a
  little below the middle, and a terminal series of small dark marks. The
  antennæ are filiform in both sexes.

The perfect insect appears in October, November and December. It frequents
dense forest ravines, and is generally disturbed from amongst dead leaves
or old fern fronds. It is usually a very scarce species, but appears to be
much commoner in some years than in others. According to Mr. Meyrick, it is
also found in Australia.

This species is placed by Mr. Meyrick in the genus _Rhapsa_. The simple
antennæ and absence of the broad costal fold in the males would appear,
however, to remove it from that genus, as restricted by him in the
'Transactions' of the New Zealand Institute, xix. 38. In all other respects
it appears to conform to the genus.[25]




{38}II.--THE NOTODONTINA.


The _Notodontina_ are characterized as follows:--

  "The maxillary palpi are obsolete. Fore-wings with vein 1b usually
  furcate, but with lower fork often weak or tending to be obsolete, 5
  rising not nearer to 4 than to 6, parallel, 7 and 8 out of 9. Hind-wings
  almost always with frenulum, 1c absent. (Plate II., figs. 19 to 64, and
  Plate I., figs. 12 and 13.)

  "Imago with fore-wings more or less broad-triangular; hind-wings
  broad-ovate."--(Meyrick.)

  Larva (in New Zealand) generally with 10 or 12 legs only (Plate III.,
  figs. 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24), rarely with 16 (_Sphinx_, Pl.
  III., figs. 13 and 14).

  "Pupa with segments 9 to 11 free; not protruded from cocoon in
  emergence."--(Meyrick.)

This is a very extensive group of the Lepidoptera, and so far as it is
represented in New Zealand is equivalent to that group formerly known as
the _Geometrina_, with the addition of the family _Sphingidæ_. The insects
here included comprise many of our most interesting, abundant, and
beautiful species. Some of them are so extremely variable that it is often
a matter of considerable difficulty to determine the most convenient points
on which to base the specific distinctions; although fortunately great
advances have been made in this direction of late years owing to the
increase in the number of workers, and the consequent accumulation of
available material. In connection with this portion of the subject, special
mention should be made of Mr. Meyrick's paper on the group, which appeared
in the 'Transactions' of the New Zealand Institute for 1883. This essay has
been of the greatest value in dispelling the doubts which formerly existed
respecting the limits of many of the most variable species.

The _Notodontina_ are represented in New Zealand by the six following
families:--

  1. HYDRIOMENIDÆ.     4. ORTHOSTIXIDÆ.
  2. STERRHIDÆ.        5. SELIDOSEMIDÆ.
  3. MONOCTENIADÆ.     6. SPHINGIDÆ.


Family 1.--HYDRIOMENIDÆ.

The _Hydriomenidae_  are thus characterized:--

  "Tongue well developed. Fore-wings with vein 10 rising separate;
  anastomosing with 11 and 9 (forming double areole), or rising out of 11
  and anastomosing with 9 (forming simple areole). Hind-wings with vein 5
  fully developed, parallel to 4, 6, and 7 almost always stalked or
  connate, 8 anastomosing with upper margin of cell from near base to
  beyond middle, or sometimes approximated only and connected by a bar or
  shortly anastomosing beyond middle." (Plate II., figs. 19 to 43.)

"A very large family distributed in equal plenty throughout all temperate
regions, but becoming scarcer within the tropics. The structure is very
uniform throughout, and the generic distinctions slight. Imago with body
slender, fore-wings usually broad.

"Ovum broad, oval, rather flattened with usually oval reticulations. Larva
elongate, slender, with few hairs, without prolegs on segments 7 to 9;
often imitating live or dead twigs and shoots. Pupa usually
subterranean."--(Meyrick.)

{39}This family is very extensively represented in New Zealand by the
following fifteen genera:--

  1. TATOSOMA.        5. ELVIA.        9. VENUSIA.        13. DASYURIS.

  2. PARADETIS.       6. HYDRIOMENA.  10. ASAPHODES.      14. NOTOREAS.

  3. CHLOROCLYSTIS.   7. EUCHOECA.  11. XANTHORHOE.     15. SAMANA.

  4. PHRIXOGONUS.     8. ASTHENA.     12. LYTHRIA.



Genus 1.--TATOSOMA, Butl.

  "Face smooth. Palpi long, straight, porrected, shortly rough-scaled,
  terminal joint short. Antennæ in male simple, stout, gradually dilated
  from base to near apex, apex attenuated. Abdomen in male very excessively
  elongate. Hind-wings in male deeply excised near dorsum, dorsal lobe
  folded into a long pocket, fringed with hairs. Fore-wings with vein 6
  rising out of 9, 7 from or above angle of areole, 10 anastomosing
  moderately with 9, 11 anastomosing moderately with 10, 12 free.
  Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 separate, 8 free, united with 7 before
  transverse vein by an oblique bar.

"This singular genus is a remnant of a widely diffused, but now fragmentary
group, to which belong also _Lobophora_ (Europe), _Rhopalodes_ (South
America), _Sauris_ (Ceylon), and _Remodes_ (Borneo.) In all, the hind-wings
of the male are peculiarly modified, usually much diminished in size, and
with the dorsum formed into a distinct lobe, the object of which is
unknown. A similar structure is found only in one or two genera of
_Tortricina_. _Rhopalodes_ is the nearest genus to this, but vein 5 is said
to be obsolete, and the lobe does not form a pocket; in _Sauris_ the areole
is simple, and the antennæ thickly scaled; in _Remodes_ the areole is also
simple, the antennæ flattened and scaled, and the dorsum is furnished with
three superposed lobular folds, so that it represents the extreme of
development in this direction."--(Meyrick.)

It will be seen on reference to Plate II., figs. 22 and 23, which represent
the structure of the hind-wings of the male and female of _Tatosoma
agrionata_ respectively, that in the male veins 1 and 2 are absent, having
no doubt become absorbed during the formation of the characteristic sexual
lobe; vein 8 is connected with the margin of the cell by an oblique bar,
this being probably due to an extension of the wing in the costal region,
compensating for the loss in the dorsal region due to the above-mentioned
lobe. In the hind-wings of the female the normal neuration of the family is
almost preserved, the only peculiar feature consisting in the origin of
veins 6 and 7 from a point on the margin of the cell.

Of this remarkable genus we have three species, and I think it quite
possible that others may reward the industry of future collectors.


TATOSOMA LESTEVATA, Walk.

(_Cidaria lestevata_, Walk. 1416. _Sauris ranata_, Feld. cxxxi. 11.,
_Tatosoma lestevata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 67.)

(Plate VI., fig. 25 [M].)

This beautiful species has occurred at Wainuiomata, near Wellington, in the
North Island, and at Nelson and Christchurch, in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _The fore-wings are
  bright-green; there are four wavy, black, transverse lines; the first
  near the base, the second a little before the middle, the third
  considerably beyond the middle, and the fourth near the termen_; the
  terminal line is very faint towards the tornus, and it emits three or
  four very sharp, longitudinal, black, tooth-like marks; all the
  transverse lines are much stronger where they cross the principal veins.
  The hind-wings are very pale yellowish-green.

The perfect insect appears in February. At present I believe the species is
represented by four specimens only--two in Mr. Fereday's collection and two
in my own.


{40}TATOSOMA AGRIONATA, Walk.

  (_Cidaria agrionata_, Walk. 1417. _Cidaria tipulata_, ib. 1417. _Cidaria
  inclinataria_, ib. 1418. _Cidaria transitaria_, ib. 1419. _Sauris
  mistata_, Feld. cxxxi. 12. _Tatosoma transitaria_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z.
  Inst. xvi. 68. _Tatosoma agrionata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvii. 64.)

(Plate VI., fig. 26 [M], 27 [F].)

This fine species has occurred commonly at Wellington in the North Island.
It is generally distributed in the South Island, and has also been found at
Stewart Island.

  The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are
  bright-green traversed by numerous black, wavy, transverse lines; these
  black lines are grouped into four more or less distinct bands, the
  outermost of which is interrupted at each of the veins_; there is a
  conspicuous black dot in the middle of the wing, a number of small
  triangular black marks near the termen, and a series of minute black dots
  on the termen. The hind-wings are ochreous, tinged with green towards the
  termen. In the female the abdomen is much shorter, and the hind-wings are
  larger than in the male.

The perfect insect appears from December till April. It frequents dense
forests, and is generally found at rest on the trunks of trees. In these
situations the pattern of the fore-wings is extremely protective, the whole
insect bearing the closest possible resemblance to a patch of moss. This
species may also be taken at sugar, and sometimes at light, but I have
found that it can be obtained most plentifully by a careful scrutiny of the
tree-trunks in a favourable locality. As a rule I think that the males are
considerably commoner than the females. I have noticed them in the
proportion of about four to one.


TATOSOMA TIMORA, Meyr.

(_Tatosoma agrionata_, Meyr. (nec Walker), Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 68.
_Tatosoma timora_, Meyr., ib. xvii. 64.)

(Plate VI., fig. 28 [M], 29 [F].)

This rather sombre, though interesting insect, has occurred at Palmerston
and Wellington in the North Island, and at Christchurch and Akaroa in the
South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. _All the wings are sparsely
  covered with scales. The fore-wings of the male are dull reddish-brown,
  with numerous obscure transverse dusky stripes; there are two rather
  conspicuous blackish blotches on the costa_, a white dot in the middle of
  the wing, a wavy, pale, transverse line near the termen, and a series of
  black terminal dots; the veins are dotted in black. The hind-wings are
  very small, dull grey, with the lobe large and conspicuous. _The female
  is faintly tinged with green, the markings on the fore-wings are rather
  indistinct_; the hind-wings are small, though much larger than those of
  the male.

The perfect insect appears from November till May. It frequents densely
wooded districts, but is not a common species.


Genus 2.--PARADETIS, Meyr.

  "Palpi short, arched, roughly-scaled beneath. Antennæ bipectinated.
  Fore-wings with vein 6 from below 9, 7 from below angle of areole, 10
  very shortly anastomosing with 9, 11 out of 10 considerably before angle
  of areole, 12 free. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 stalked, 8 separate,
  united to 7 before transverse vein by an oblique bar.

"This singular genus is of quite uncertain affinity, and stands at present
alone. The simple areole, and connecting bar of 7 and 8, can only have
arisen by modification of the normal type of this family, to which it must
be referred. It is also the only New Zealand genus except _Declana_ in
which the female has pectinated antennæ; but this character recurs in a few
exotic genera not otherwise allied."--(Meyrick.)

Plate II., figs. 27 and 28 represent the neuration of the male of
_Paradetis porphyrias_, vein 2 of the hind-wings being absent in that sex.
In the female, which is the sex from which Mr. Meyrick characterized the
genus, the vein is present as usual. Only one species is known.


{41}PARADETIS PORPHYRIAS, Meyr.

(_Parysatis porphyrias_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 58. _Paradetis
porphyrias_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VI., fig. 36 [M].)

This interesting little insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount
Arthur, Castle Hill, the Otira Gorge, and Lake Wakatipu.

  The expansion of the wings is about ¾ inch. _The fore-wings of the male
  are deep purplish-brown_; there is a wavy, reddish, transverse line at
  about one-third and another at about two-thirds; between these two lines
  near the dorsum there are often four, more or less distinct, yellow dots;
  there is an obscure orange mark at the origin of the first line and a
  conspicuous mark at the origin of the second. _The hind-wings are deep
  purplish-brown._ The cilia of all the wings are white. _The fore-wing has
  the apex hooked and the termen deeply excavated above and below the
  middle._ The female is very much paler; the lines are more distinct and
  the veins are marked in brown.

The perfect insect appears in January. It frequents rather open spots in
the forest, and flies in a very busy manner close to the ground amongst the
numerous ferns and other plants, which are always abundant in such
situations. It is consequently very inconspicuous and sometimes difficult
to capture. Thus, no doubt, it is often overlooked, and perhaps is much
commoner than at present appears probable.




Genus 3.--CHLOROCLYSTIS, Hb.

  "Face with short cone of scales. Palpi rough-scaled. Antennæ in male
  shortly ciliated. Abdomen crested. Fore-wings with areole simple, vein 11
  running into or anastomosing with 12. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing
  with cell from near base to beyond middle." (Plate II., figs. 19 and 20.)

"This genus is especially characteristic of New Zealand, and is also found
in South Asia, a few stragglers occurring in Europe and
elsewhere."--(Meyrick.)

We have twelve species, several of which are very beautiful.


CHLOROCLYSTIS PLINTHINA, Meyr.

(_Pasiphila plinthina_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 49.)

(Plate VI., fig. 8.)

This pretty species has occurred at Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is about ½ inch. All the wings are traversed
  by numerous obscure, wavy, reddish-yellow lines; the fore-wings have a
  dark shading near the base, _a very large white blotch in the middle_,
  and a dark chocolate-brown patch near the apex. _The hind-wings have a
  large shaded white patch in the middle_, a blackish dot near the base,
  and a series of brownish crescentic marks on the termen; the cilia of all
  the wings are pale brown barred with brownish-black. The termen of the
  fore-wings is very oblique, of the hind-wings rather irregular.

Many specimens of this insect are strongly tinged with green, and the shape
and size of the white patches on the fore- and hind-wings are subject to
slight variations.

The perfect insect appears in November and December. It frequents
brushwood, where it may be occasionally taken at rest on tree-trunks but
more often dislodged from the foliage. It is not a very common species.


CHLOROCLYSTIS BILINEOLATA, Walk.

  (_Eupithecia bilineolata_, Walk. 1246. _E. muscosata_, ib. 1246.
  _Scotosia humerata_, ib. 1362. _Eupithecia semialbata_, ib. 1708. _E.
  cidariaria_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 62. _Cidiaria aquosata_, Feld., pl.
  cxxxi. 33. _Helastia charybdis_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 503. _H. calida_,
  ib. 504. _Pasiphila muscosata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. 50. _P.
  bilineolata_, ib.)

(Plate VI., fig. 9 type, fig. 10 variety.)

This beautiful little species is common, and generally distributed
throughout the country.

  {42}The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch. _The fore-wings are bright
  green with numerous wavy darker lines._ There is a jagged transverse
  black line near the base, two at about one-fourth, enclosing a rather
  paler space; beyond this there are several rather irregular, fine black
  marks, and an obscure white patch below the apex; the cilia are dull
  green. The hind-wings are grey slightly tinged with reddish; the dorsum
  and termen are shaded with green, and there is a number of curved black
  lines on the dorsum; the cilia are dull greenish-grey. The termen of the
  fore-wings is slightly bowed, and all the wings are finely scalloped and
  sharply outlined in black.

A very distinct variety frequently occurs in which the entire ground colour
is _orange-yellow_. This variety can be artificially produced by exposing a
typical specimen to the fumes of bruised laurel leaves. Intermediate forms
may also be found, but are much scarcer than either the typical form or the
variety.

The larva (according to Mr. Purdie[26]) is about ½ inch long; colour
brownish, surface very rugged; body tapering somewhat towards the head. Two
pairs of small dorsal tubercles about the middle, the posterior pair being
larger; oblique lateral dark markings faintly seen on dark ground colour;
below lighter. Food-plants: _Aristotelia_, _Leptospermum ericoides_,
_Rubus_ (?), and _Muhlenbeckia_ (?). Found in December and January.

The perfect insect appears from September till May, and is often very
common. It rests on tree-trunks with outspread wings, in which position it
so closely resembles a patch of moss that it is extremely difficult to
detect, even when specially searched for.


CHLOROCLYSTIS ANTARCTICA, n. sp.

(Plate VI., fig. 20.)

This species was discovered by Mr. Philpott at West Plains, near
Invercargill.

  The expansion of the wings is 7/8 inch. The fore-wings are rather dull
  green; there is a reddish-brown patch near the base, followed by two,
  slightly oblique, reddish bands; the central band is very broad, green,
  traversed by numerous fine wavy lines; there is a broad reddish band on
  the termen. The hind-wings are slaty-grey, tinged with pink towards the
  termen and dorsum. The cilia of all the wings are pink barred with black.

Two other specimens kindly given to me by Mr. Philpott have the bands on
the fore-wings more or less brown in place of red, but are otherwise
identical.

This insect is evidently very closely allied to _C. bilineolata_, but its
larger size, longer wings, and barred cilia will, I think, distinguish it
from that species.

The perfect insect appears in November.


CHLOROCLYSTIS ARISTIAS, Meyr.

(_Chloroclystis aristias_, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1897, 385.)

(Plate VI., fig. 21 [M], 22 [F].)

This beautiful insect was discovered on the Mount Arthur Tableland in
January, 1896, at an elevation of about 4,000 feet.

  The expansion of the wings is 1-1/8 inches. _All the wings are very pale
  greenish-grey._ The male has three distinct dark brownish bands near the
  base, an irregular broad suffused band near the middle, becoming obsolete
  before it reaches the dorsum, a dark patch at the apex, another patch on
  the termen below the apex and another near the tornus. The hind-wings are
  traversed by numerous, very fine, wavy blackish lines, becoming darker
  towards the dorsum. In the female there are three wavy reddish-brown
  bands on the costa of the fore-wings, becoming obsolete towards the
  dorsum, then a wavy yellowish line, followed by two rust-red patches. The
  hind-wings resemble those of the male. Both sexes have the veins dotted
  with black, and the cilia of all the wings are grey barred with black.

{43}The perfect insect was found in a limestone valley at the foot of Mount
Peel, where it was fairly common.


CHLOROCLYSTIS NEREIS, Meyr.

(_Pasiphila nereis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 51.)

(Plate VI., fig. 11 [M].)

This insect has occurred at Mount Arthur, Mount Hutt, and the Humboldt
Range, Lake Wakatipu, at elevations from 2,500 to 4,000 feet.

  The expansion of the wings is nearly an inch. _All the wings are dusky
  grey with numerous black and dull white, wavy transverse lines_; there is
  often a somewhat paler area near the apex of the fore-wings, and the
  termen of the hind-wings is slightly scalloped; the cilia are dull white
  barred with dark greyish-black.

The perfect insect appears in January and February. It generally frequents
cliffs on mountain sides, resting with outspread wings on the dark rocky
surfaces. In these situations it is extremely difficult to detect, and the
protective value of its colouring is thus at once demonstrated.


CHLOROCLYSTIS DRYAS, Meyr.

(_Pasiphila dryas_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiii. 97.)

(Plate VI., fig. 12 [M].)

This species has occurred at Wellington.

  The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. _The fore-wings are dull
  rosy-brown, traversed by numerous obscure blackish transverse lines,
  somewhat concentrated towards the middle and forming an ill-defined
  central band_; the termen is slightly shaded with blackish, and the veins
  are marked with dotted lines. The hind-wings are grey, tinged with
  rosy-brown; there are numerous very faint blackish transverse lines and
  the veins are marked with blackish dots. The cilia of all the wings are
  dark grey. The termen of the hind-wings is rather irregular.

The perfect insect appears in December and January, and is attracted by
light. I once took a specimen in July, but this may have been due to an
exceptionally mild winter.


CHLOROCLYSTIS SPHRAGITIS, Meyr.

(_Pasiphila sphragitis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 51.)

(Plate VI., fig. 13 [M], 14 [F].)

This extremely variable insect has occurred at Wellington in the North
Island, and at Christchurch in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings of the male is 5/8 inch, of the female ¾ inch.
  _The fore-wings are pale ochreous; there is a narrow darker area at the
  base followed by a narrow oblique pale band_; then a broad central band,
  formed of numerous oblique, wavy, brown, transverse lines, next, a rather
  narrow curved pale band, followed by several small irregular patches on
  the termen, sometimes forming a dark brown terminal band; all the
  markings are much darker on the costa, and portions of the costa, termen,
  and dorsum are frequently tinged with green. The hind-wings are pale
  ochreous; there are numerous wavy, pale brown lines on the dorsum,
  becoming obsolete towards the costa. The termen of all the wings is edged
  with fine black crescents. The cilia are pale ochreous barred with dark
  brown.

The perfect insect may be met with from September till February, but is
most abundant in the early spring. It is extremely common in the Wellington
Botanical Gardens, frequenting the forest gullies, where numerous specimens
may be easily dislodged from amongst the dense undergrowth. This moth rests
with expanded wings on the leaves and stems of shrubs, but is extremely
difficult to find in such situations, the colouring of the insect causing
it to closely resemble the droppings of birds.


{44}CHLOROCLYSTIS LICHENODES, Purd.

(_Pasiphila lichenodes_, Purdie, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 70.)

(Plate VI., figs. 15 and 16, varieties.)

This extremely interesting species has occurred at Wellington in the North
Island, and at Dunedin in the South Island; it has also been found at
Stewart Island.

  The expansion of the wings is about ¾ inch. The fore-wings are dull
  green; _there is a large pale brown area near the base, divided by fine
  black lines into three distinct patches_; the central portion of the wing
  is mottled with black, pale brown, and dull green; _there is a very
  broad, irregular band of chocolate-brown near the termen, outlined with
  black towards the base and with white towards the termen, the white line
  almost dividing the band into four or five patches_. The hind-wings are
  dull greenish-brown; there are several irregular black and white
  transverse lines and small patches of chocolate-brown, the markings being
  more distinct towards the dorsum. The cilia of all the wings are pale
  brown barred with dark brown.

I have observed that in many specimens of this species the ground colour is
entirely pale brown instead of green; the markings, however, are not
variable.

The perfect insect appears from November till February. It frequents
forests, resting with outspread wings on lichen-covered tree-trunks, where
its wonderfully perfect protective colouring may be seen to great
advantage. The remarkable brown patches on the wings have undoubtedly been
acquired for this protective purpose, and Mr. Purdie's name is certainly a
most appropriate one. It is not, I think, a common species.


CHLOROCLYSTIS INDICATARIA.

(_Eupithecia indicataria_, Walk. 1708. _Pasiphila indicataria_, Meyr.,
Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 52.)

(Plate VI., fig. 17 [M], 17A [F].)

This rather dull-looking species has occurred at Napier and Wellington in
the North Island, and at Nelson in the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is 7/8 inch. _The fore-wings of the male are
  dull greenish-grey_; there is an oblique, black-edged, reddish,
  transverse band at about one-third, and another very irregular band near
  the termen; between and beyond these bands there are numerous irregular,
  broken, reddish and blackish transverse lines; there is a rust-red patch
  on the termen below the apex. The cilia are grey barred with brown. The
  hind-wings are dull grey with several faint, jagged, transverse lines;
  the termen is rather irregular. The female is much browner than the male,
  and the lines are more numerous and distinct, especially on the
  hind-wings. _The antennæ are simple in both sexes._

The perfect insect appears from October till March, and is fairly common in
wooded localities. It is sometimes attracted by light.


CHLOROCLYSTIS INDUCTATA, Walk.

(_Coremia inductata_, Walk. 1322. _Scotosia subitata_, ib. 1362. _Pasiphila
inductata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 53.)

  "This is a distinct species; but I have only seen the British Museum
  specimens, and am unable to say to which section it belongs, or to give a
  proper description. The termen of the fore-wings is more bent, and the
  hind-wings are narrower than in any other species; ground colour light
  reddish, with the margins of the median band formed by distinct black
  lines."--(Meyrick.)

I am unacquainted with this insect.


CHLOROCLYSTIS MACULATA, n. sp.

(Plate VI., fig. 18.)

This interesting species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. W. P. Cohen.

  The expansion of the wings is about 7/8 inch. _All the wings are
  creamy-white slightly tinged with green. The fore-wings have several
  irregular large black marks on the costa_ extending about {45}two-thirds
  towards the apex; there is a curved transverse series of black dots at
  about two-thirds, and several obscure brown marks on the termen near the
  middle and at the tornus. _The hind-wings have several irregular rows of
  conspicuous black spots._ The cilia are cream-coloured barred with black.
  The apex of the fore-wing is very much rounded.

The perfect insect appears in December, and is attracted by light.

Described and figured from a specimen kindly given to me by Mr. Cohen.


CHLOROCLYSTIS RECTILINEATA, n. sp.

(Plate VI., fig. 22.)

This species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. W. P. Cohen.

  The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch. _The fore-wings are pale grey_;
  there are several irregular black, transverse lines near the base, very
  broad on the costa; a broad, pale, central area with no distinct
  markings; _then two very fine, almost straight, parallel, dark transverse
  lines alternating with two broader white lines, and followed by a very
  conspicuous black line, this being again immediately followed by a
  fainter black line_; beyond these lines the wing is darker, with a wavy
  transverse white line and a row of black terminal marks. The hind-wings
  are grey with several faint, wavy, transverse lines and a series of
  darker marks on the termen. The cilia of all the wings are grey.

Described and figured from a specimen kindly given to me by Mr. Cohen.


Genus 4.--PHRISSOGONUS, Butl.

  "Face with short cone of scales or smooth. Palpi moderate or short,
  porrected, more or less rough-scaled. Antennæ in male ciliated or naked.
  Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings in male with swelling
  or tuft or rough scales on costa, vein 5 sometimes distorted or absent;
  areole simple, 11 running into 12. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing
  with cell from near base to beyond middle."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species in New Zealand.


PHRISSOGONUS DENOTATUS, Walk.

(_Scotosia denotata_, Walk. 1361. _Phibalapteryx parvulata_, ib. 1721.
_Phrixogonus denotatus_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 53.)

(Plate VI., fig. 19 [M].)

This dull-looking insect is common and generally distributed throughout the
country.

  The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch. _The fore-wings are very dark
  grey_, with numerous obscure black and pale brown transverse lines; there
  are several black dots on the veins, and a white mark on the termen near
  the apex. The hind-wings are pale grey with numerous wavy black lines,
  especially near the dorsum. _The antennæ are simple in both sexes._ The
  cilia are dull pink barred with black. The female is slightly tinged with
  reddish-brown. _The male has a peculiar dilation on the costa, beyond the
  middle, beneath which is a naked longitudinal mark occupying the space
  between veins 10 and 12, these veins being slightly distorted in
  consequence._

The larva, which feeds on the blossoms of the wharangi (_Brachyglottis
repanda_), is pale green with a series of elongate triangular brown
markings down the back and an obscure series of brown marks on each side.
It may be found during the latter end of October and beginning of November,
but is extremely inconspicuous amongst its food-plant. The pupa is
concealed in a light cocoon constructed of the remains of the blossoms.

The perfect insect appears from October till February. It frequents dense
undergrowth in the forest, and is generally found resting with extended
wings on the dark-coloured stems of the kawakawa (_Piper excelsum_), where
it is practically invisible. In this situation its colouring is evidently
specially adapted for protective purposes.


{46}Genus 5.--ELVIA, Walk.

  "Face smooth. Palpi rather long, straight, porrected, densely
  rough-scaled above and beneath, terminal joint short. Antennæ in male
  stout, flattened, bipectinated (2½). Thorax somewhat crested. Fore-wings
  with vein 6 from a point with 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 anastomosing
  moderately with 9, 11 out of 10, running shortly into 12. Hind-wings with
  veins 6 and 7 stalked, 8 anastomosing with 7 from near base to near
  transverse vein."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species.


ELVIA GLAUCATA, Walk.

(_Elvia glaucata_, Walk. 1431; Feld. cxxxii. 25. _Elvia donovani_, Feld.
cxxxii. 5. _Elvia glaucata_,  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 65.)

(Plate VI., fig. 23 and 24 varieties.)

This very pretty insect is generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is about an inch.

  _The fore-wings vary from pale green to dark steely blue_, rarely pale
  reddish-brown; _there is an almost straight, black transverse line near
  the base; a broad curved line before the middle, shaded towards the
  termen; then a straight line, breaking up into dots towards the dorsum,
  followed by a conspicuous cream-coloured blotch near the costa; this
  again is followed by a fine jagged cream-coloured line_; there is a
  terminal series of black dots. The hind-wings are cream-coloured, tinged
  with steely blue or green towards the termen; there are a few obscure
  transverse lines and a short series of dots from the dorsum. The apex of
  the fore-wing is very blunt, and the termen is slightly hollowed out
  towards the tornus; _the termen of the hind-wings is deeply scalloped_.

This species is extremely variable. In addition to the variations above
indicated, the markings of many specimens differ considerably in intensity,
and there are frequently several large cream-coloured blotches towards the
base or middle of the forewings.

The perfect insect appears from September till March, but is not a common
species. It frequents forest districts, and may sometimes be found at rest
on tree-trunks, where the beautiful colouring of its fore-wings closely
imitates that of certain lichens, and renders its detection in such
situations extremely difficult. Unlike the insects included in the two
preceding genera, this species closes its wings when at rest, the anterior
pair alone being visible. These wings are not held flat, but are curiously
folded longitudinally, and the end of the abdomen is also curled upwards.
By slightly raising the insect above the level of the surrounding surface,
this peculiar attitude considerably increases its resemblance to a lichen
growing on the stem or branch of a tree. It will also be observed that in
this species, which when at rest exposes only its fore-wings, these alone
are protectively coloured; whilst in the genera _Chloroclystis_ and
_Phrissogonus_, where both pairs of wings are displayed, both pairs are
protectively coloured.


Genus 6.--HYDRIOMENA, Hb.

  "Face with somewhat projecting or loose scales, or with conical tuft.
  Palpi rough-scaled. Antennæ in male ciliated, rarely dentate or naked.
  Abdomen not crested, or with crests on two basal segments only.
  Fore-wings with areole double. Hind-wings with 8 anastomosing with cell
  from near base to beyond middle. (See Plate II., fig. 32 head, figs. 33
  and 34 neuration of _Hydriomena deltoidata_.)

"A very large genus, principally characteristic of temperate regions in
both hemispheres.--(Meyrick.)

There are twelve New Zealand species.


{47}HYDRIOMENA GOBIATA, Feld.

  (_Cidaria gobiata_, Feld. cxxxi. 2. _Phibalapteryx simulans_, Butl.,
  Cist. Ent. ii. 506. _Phibalapteryx undulifera_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii.
  506. _Phibalapteryx anguligera_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 507.
  _Phibalapteryx rivularis_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 507. _Scotosia gobiata_,
  Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 70. _Cephalissa gobiata_, ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VI., fig. 43 [M], 44 [F].)

This insect has occurred plentifully at Wanganui and Wellington in the
North Island, and is generally distributed throughout the South Island.

  The expansion of the wings is from 1 to 1¼ inches. _All the wings vary
  from pale ochreous to rather dull yello

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