Part 10

The expansion of the wings is 5/8 inch. _The fore-wings are rich brown with two transverse bands of darker brown_; the first near the base, rather narrow; the second near the middle, considerably broader, especially on the costa. _The hind-wings are bright orange._ The termen of the fore-wings is slightly excavated below the apex, and considerably bowed a little below the middle.

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

Genus 7.--EUCHOECA, Hb.

"Face smooth, flat. Antennæ in [M] shortly ciliated. Palpi short, slender, loosely scaled. Fore-wings with areole simple. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle.

"A small genus containing a few species distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and one Australian."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species.

EUCHOECA RUBROPUNCTARIA, Dbld.

(_Ptychopoda rubropunctaria_, Dbld., Dieff. N. Z. li. 287. _Asthena visata_, Gn. ix. 438. _Asthena_, Gn., E. M. M. v. 42. _Asthena pulchraria_, Butl., Cat. pl. iii. 18. _Hippolyte rubropunctaria_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 60. _Epicyme rubropunctaria_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VI., fig. 35.)

This little species is common and generally distributed throughout both the North and South Islands, and has also occurred at Stewart Island.

The expansion of the wings is about 7/8 inch. _All the wings are pale ochreous, with numerous obscure reddish transverse lines._ On the fore-wings there are four transverse series of black dots; the first near the base, the second a little before the middle, the third a little beyond the middle, and the fourth on the termen; between the second and third series of dots there is very frequently _an elongate blackish patch, especially towards the dorsum_. The hind-wings have three series of black dots; the first near the base, the second near the middle, and the third on the termen. The termen of both fore- and hind-wings slightly projects near the middle.

This species varies considerably in the extent of the blackish marking near the middle of the fore-wings, as well as in the colour and intensity of the reddish transverse lines.

The larva is thus described by Mr. Fereday:[29] "The caterpillar has ten legs, is cylindrical, rather stout, with the segmental divisions incised; its colour is pale dull green, sometimes suffused with pink, brown, purple, or dark green; the dorsal line is purplish-brown, suffused, the central line whitish; the spiracular line is whitish, broadly margined with purplish-brown; the segmental divisions are pale yellowish-brown."

The food is _Haloragis alata_, a common herbaceous plant growing in swampy situations. The pupa is enclosed in a slight earth-covered cocoon.

{52}The perfect insect appears from September till March, and is sometimes common. It is generally found in wooded districts, but prefers rather open situations in the vicinity of streams, where its food-plant may often be seen. According to Mr. Meyrick,[30] this insect is common in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, and the Australian and New Zealand specimens are similar in appearance.

Genus 8.--ASTHENA.

"Face smooth, flat. Antennæ in [M] shortly ciliated. Palpi short, slender, loosely scaled. Fore-wings with areole double. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle.

(Plate II., figs. 30 and 31.)

"A genus of a few widely scattered species most numerous in the Australian Region."--(Meyrick.)

We have two species.

ASTHENA PULCHRARIA, Dbld.

(_Acidalia pulchraria_, Dbld., Dieff. N. Z. ii. 286. _Chlorochroma plurilineata_, Walk. 563, 676. _Asthena ondinata_, Gn. ix. 438, pl. xix. 4; Butl., Cat. pl. iii. 20. _Cidaria ondinata_, Feld. cxxviii. 17. _Asthena pulchraria_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 69.)

(Plate VI., fig. 37 [M], 38 [F].)

This beautiful little insect has occurred at many localities throughout both the North and South Islands. It is probably a common species in most wooded districts.

The expansion of the wings is almost an inch. _All the wings are very pale greenish-white with numerous faint green, wavy, transverse lines._ The fore-wings have a more or less distinct brown band on the costal edge, and a conspicuous greenish central dot. The hind-wings often have a slight projection on the termen near the middle.

The perfect insect appears from October till May, and frequents dense forest undergrowth. It is chiefly attached to the Kawakawa (_Piper excelsum_), and may often be found resting with outspread wings on the under-surfaces of the leaves of this plant, where it is very inconspicuous. There are probably two or more broods during the summer.

On the 11th of May, 1892, I observed large numbers of this species flying over the Manuka bushes in the Wellington Botanical Gardens in brilliant moonlight. The night was very cold, but notwithstanding this the moths were most numerous and active. The appearance of this insect under such unusual conditions may have been quite accidental, as I have never seen a recurrence; but one is often somewhat unobservant in the winter, hence the record of this observation may be of use in directing the attention of others to the subject.

According to Mr. Meyrick this species is also found in Tasmania, and South-east Australia.

ASTHENA SCHISTARIA, Walk.

(_Acidalia schistaria_, Walk. 782. _Asthena subpurpureata_, Walk. 1588. _Acidalia tuhuata_, Feld. cxxviii. 5. _Asthena schistaria_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 69.)

(Plate VI., figs. 39, 40 [M], 41, 42 [F] varieties.)

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

The expansion of the wings is nearly an inch. _All the wings vary from very pale brown to rather dull purplish-brown; there are numerous jagged, darker, transverse lines forming several more or less distinct bands._ The first of these bands extends from the base to about one-eighth; the second, composed of only two or three lines, is situated at about one-third; the third extends from {53}three-fourths to about five-eighths; there are in addition, numerous very fine, wavy lines near the termen. The spaces between these bands are paler, and in some specimens the bands are very conspicuous, whilst in others they are hardly perceptible. One specimen in my collection (Plate VI., fig. 39) has a very broad chocolate-brown band across the middle of both pairs of wings, the remaining portions being unusually pale in colour. There is always a dark brown dot in the centre of each wing, and a series of very fine dots on the termen.

The larva, which feeds on Manuka (_Leptospermum_), is very ornamental. Its general colour is light green, with black dorsal and lateral stripes, and a series of diagonal markings bordered with crimson; the legs and prolegs are also crimson, and the segments are divided by brilliant yellow rings, a white line extending down each side of the larva.

This caterpillar is difficult to find, as it remains closely concealed amongst the dense Manuka foliage, from which it can be dislodged only by vigorous and continued beating. The larvæ allow themselves to fall a short distance, hanging suspended by a silken thread, which they rapidly ascend when the danger is past.

The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon about one inch below the surface of the earth.

The perfect insect appears from October till April. It is very common in most situations where its food-plant is found and, owing to its pale colour, is readily seen when flying in the evening twilight. Specimens may also be taken in the daytime resting with outspread wings on the trunks of trees and on fences, where they are much more easily detected than many other species.

Mr. Meyrick thinks that this insect will also be found in Australia.

Genus 9.--VENUSIA, Curt.

"Face smooth. Antennæ in [M] bi-pectinated, apex simple. Palpi loosely scaled. Fore-wings with areole simple. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II., fig. 13, head of _V. verriculata_; figs. 25 and 26, neuration of _V. undosata_.)

We have three species represented in New Zealand.

VENUSIA VERRICULATA, Feld.

(_Cidaria verriculata_, Feld. cxxxi. 20. _Panopæa verriculata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 62. _Pancyma verriculata_, ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VI., fig. 30 [M], 31 [F].)

This remarkable species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and in the South Island at Christchurch, Ashburton, Dunedin and West Plains.

The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _All the wings are pale yellowish-brown, with many straight oblique parallel dull brown lines; on the fore-wings there are three lines broader and more isolated than the rest, running from the apex to the dorsum_; on the hind-wings the lines near the middle are rather thicker than the others, and have a broad space on each side of them; _all the lines are clearly marked on the abdomen, so that each line appears to be continuous from one side of the moth to the other_.

The perfect insect appears from October till May, and frequents the Cabbage Tree Palm (_Cordyline_), on which its larva probably feeds. According to Mr. Fereday the moth always rests on the dead leaves of the plant, keeping its wings in such a position that the lines are continuous with the parallel veins of the dead leaf, which they precisely resemble in appearance. We have, I think, in this species a most instructive instance of special adaptation to surrounding conditions; and the action of natural selection, in preserving favourable variations of colour and habit, appears to be here unmistakably indicated. Had our investigations been confined to the examination of cabinet specimens only, we might {54}have long remained in the dark as to the explanation of such an unusual type of wing-marking.

VENUSIA XANTHASPIS, Meyr.

(_Hermione xanthaspis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 61. _Aulopola xanthaspis_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VI., fig. 32 [M].)

This handsome insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur and at Lake Guyon.

The expansion of the wings is a little over 1 inch. _The fore-wings are bright yellow; there is a broad pale reddish-brown band on the costa; a conspicuous oval dark brown spot above the middle_, often touching the costal band; a double series of minute brown dots near the termen. The hind-wings are pale yellow, with a double series of minute brown dots parallel to the termen.

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It is apparently a rare species. Mr. Fereday has six specimens taken at Lake Guyon, and I have two specimens captured on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. These comprise, I believe, all the specimens at present taken.

VENUSIA UNDOSATA, Feld.

(_Cidaria undosata_, Feld. cxxviii. 2. _Epiphryne undosata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 60.)

(Plate VI., fig. 33 [M], 34 [F].)

This neatly marked little insect has occurred at Napier and Palmerston in the North Island; and at Nelson, Mount Hutt, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Lake Wakatipu in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings is hardly an inch. _All the wings are pale yellow with a variable number of fine jagged reddish-brown transverse lines, which are usually most distinct towards the termen._ The fore-wings have a broad band of reddish-brown along the costal edge; a blackish dot above the middle just touching the costal band, and a small brown mark near the apex. The hind-wings have a minute black dot a little above the middle.

This species is rather variable: in some specimens the transverse lines are much broader, forming bands of reddish-brown; in others the whole of the wings are dull reddish-brown, except a small yellow area near the base; whilst others are _entirely dull greyish-brown with the transverse lines very faint_, intermediate varieties between all these forms also occurring.

The larva, according to Mr. Purdie,[31] is about ½ inch long, feeding on the Ribbonwood (_Plagianthus betulinus_). The ground colour is green, with the dorsal and lateral stripes white. The dorsal stripe is interlined with short black dashes, and there is a dark blotch about the ninth segment. The dorsal and lateral stripes may be margined with purplish-red. The under side is green. The larvæ were found in April.

The perfect insect appears from November till February, and frequents forest. According to my experience it is rather a local species, although plentiful where found. Mr. Meyrick states that it is "very common in bush, from August to February, and in May."[32]

Genus 10.--ASAPHODES, Meyr.

"Face with a tuft or hardly projecting scales. Palpi moderate, porrected, rough-scaled. Antennæ in male bi-pectinated, apex simple. Thorax glabrous beneath. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings with areole simple. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell from near base to beyond middle."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 35 and 36, neuration of _Asaphodes megaspilata_.)

We have five species of this genus in New Zealand.

{55}ASAPHODES ABROGATA, Walk.

(_Aspilates abrogata_, Walk. 1075. _Fidonia (?) servularia_, Gn., E. M. M. v. 43. _Thyone abrogata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 61. _Asaphodes abrogata_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

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

This species has occurred at Murimutu in the North Island; and in the South Island at Kekerangu, Christchurch, Castle Hill, Dunedin, and Invercargill.

The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. _All the wings are ochreous with pale brown markings._ The fore-wings have a conspicuous dot in the middle, _a wavy transverse line a little beyond the middle, another line just before the termen, and a brown shading on the termen broader near the apex of the wing_. The hind-wings have a brown central dot and two transverse lines. The cilia of all the wings are brownish.

This species varies considerably in the distinctness of the brown markings, and there is occasionally a transverse line near the base of the fore-wings.

The perfect insect appears in February and March, and frequents open country, often at elevations of from 2,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It is, I think, rather a local species, though abundant where found. I met with it in considerable numbers on the chalk range near Kekerangu in the Marlborough Province.

ASAPHODES SIRIS, Hawth.

(_Asaphodes siris_, Hawth., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxix. 283.)

(Plate VII., fig. 16.)

This interesting little species was discovered near Wellington by Mr. Hawthorne.

The expansion of the wings is about 7/8 inch. The fore-wings are dull ochreous; there is a small curved brown patch near the base; then a pale band, followed by a very broad brown central band, paler in the middle; there is a very sharp projection on the outer edge of the central band, a conspicuous black dot in the centre of the wing, and a series of minute black dots on the termen. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, with a faint central transverse line.

The perfect insect appears in March.

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

ASAPHODES MEGASPILATA, Walk.

(_Larentia megaspilata_, Walk. 1198. _Cidaria assata_, Feld. cxxxi. 4. _Cidaria nehata_, Feld. cxxxi. 6. _Harpalyce megaspilata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 63. _Probolæa megaspilata_, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VII., figs. 17, 18, and 19 [M]; figs. 19A and 20 [F], varieties.)

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

The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are dull ochreous; there is a series of fine brown and reddish wavy transverse lines near the base, forming a rather broad basal band; then a pale central area containing a blackish dot above the middle; next, a very distinct band made up of several fine wavy grey lines, with a rounded projection near the middle; this is followed by numerous pale brown curved marks forming more or less broken transverse lines; _there is always an oblique slaty patch below the apex_, and a series of minute dots on the termen. The hind-wings are ochreous brown, slightly darker towards the base, with numerous indistinct wavy brown lines. _The apex of the fore-wing is very pointed and slightly hooked downwards; the termen is bowed near the middle._ The female is much duller and more uniform in colour than the male, and the antennæ are simple.

This species is very variable. Some male specimens have several more or less distinct white markings on the middle of the fore-wings; the transverse bands also differ considerably in both size and intensity. The females are not so variable; but in some specimens the bands on the fore-wings are almost absent, whilst others have the fore-wings rich brown, with a very conspicuous dark central band.

{56}The eggs when first deposited are pale yellow. They turn dark reddish-brown for some days before the young larva emerges.

The young larva is rather stout, dark brownish-black with numerous fine parallel ochreous lines; the whole body is covered with rather long bristles.

The perfect insect appears from October till April, and frequents forest, where it is generally very abundant. It is a difficult insect to identify on the wing, and in consequence is often captured under a misapprehension.

This species probably hibernates in the imago state during the winter months, as we may often observe specimens abroad on mild evenings, at that season.

ASAPHODES PARORA, Meyr.

(_Harpalyce humeraria_, Meyr. (nec Walk.), Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 64. _Harpalyce parora_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvii. 63. _Probolæa parora_, ib. xviii. 184.)

"_Male, female._--29-34 mm. (about 1¼ inches). Fore-wings moderate, apex acute, termen excavated on upper half, acutely projecting in middle; varying from light grey to light reddish-fuscous; about eighteen irregular dentate darker striæ, sometimes partially obsolete; first three, seventh and eighth, and eleventh to thirteenth usually more distinct and blackish; seventh and eighth closely approximated, forming a small blackish or reddish spot on dorsum, sometimes partially suffused with blackish; eleventh to thirteenth closely approximated, widely remote from eighth, parallel to termen; a blackish discal dot; sometimes a broad purplish-grey median band; sixteenth sometimes spotted with blackish towards costa; a terminal row of blackish dots. Hind-wings moderate, upper angle broadly projecting, termen shortly projecting in middle; varying from whitish-grey to very pale reddish-fuscous, faintly striated with darker.

"Very variable in colour, but always distinguishable by the peculiar form of wing.

"Wellington, Christchurch, Mount Hutt; common amongst bush, in January, February, April, and May; probably generally distributed; twenty specimens."--(Meyrick.)

I am unacquainted with this insect, but it would appear to closely resemble _A. megaspilata_.

ASAPHODES RUFESCENS, Butl.

(_Larentia(?) rufescens_, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 502. _Eurydice cymosema_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 63. _Eurydice rufescens_, ib. xvii. 63. _Homodotis rufescens_, ib. xviii. 184.)

"_Male, female._--25-29 mm. (about 1¼ inches). Fore-wings moderate, termen rather strongly sinuate; brown-whitish, sometimes more or less suffused with brown; numerous fine dark fuscous sinuate subdentate lines; three before middle and four beyond middle more blackish, generally partially suffused with brown, leaving a clear median space on costal half, in which is a transverse blackish discal dot; termen suffusedly greyish; a suffused oblique dark fuscous sub-apical streak. Hind-wings moderate, termen irregularly crenulate, somewhat projecting in middle; grey whitish; several subdentate grey lines, only distinct towards dorsum; a dark grey discal dot.

"Variable only in the degree of the brownish suffusion; in the markings of the fore-wings it agrees almost exactly with some forms of _A. megaspilata_, but, apart from structure, may be always known by the whitish hind-wings and rather larger size.

"Dunedin; ten specimens sent to Mr. Fereday by Capt. Hutton."--(Meyrick.)

I have only seen one specimen of this insect, in Mr. Fereday's collection, and it appeared to me to be identical with the somewhat variable female of _A. megaspilata_.

Genus 11.--XANTHORHOE, Hb.

"Face with somewhat projecting scales or conical tuft. Antennæ in male bi-pectinated, apex usually simple. Palpi rough-scaled. Fore-wings with areole double. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 37 and 38.)

{57}This interesting genus is relatively far more numerous in New Zealand than elsewhere, its place in other regions being largely taken by _Hydriomena_. We have no less than thirty-one known species, and many others will no doubt be ultimately discovered, especially in the mountainous districts of the west coast of the South Island.

XANTHORHOE LIMONODES, Meyr.

(_Epyaxa limonodes_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 54.)

(Plate VII., fig. 46 [M].)

This species has occurred at Wellington and at Cape Terawhiti in the North Island.

The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. _The fore-wings of the male are dull olive-green with numerous, rather obscure, wavy brownish transverse lines; these lines are all more distinct near the costa; there are two transverse rows of white dots near the base, a very broken line of white dots at about three-fourths, one of the dots forming a crescentic mark above the middle_; beyond this line the colour is often paler, especially towards the apex, but inside this line there is often a considerably darker patch; there is a very distinct blackish patch just below the apex. The apex of the wing slightly projects, and the termen is arched. The hind-wings are very pale greenish-ochreous; there is an obscure dusky transverse line in the middle. _The female has the fore-wings much browner; there are several additional rows of white dots and two conspicuous white spots above the middle._

The species is rather variable. In many specimens the dorsal half of the fore-wing is much paler than the costal half.

The perfect insect appears from November till March, and frequents dense forest. It is not a common species.

XANTHORHOE SUBDUCTATA, Walk.

(_Larentia subductata_, Walk. 1198. _Epyaxa subductata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 55.)

This species has occurred at Auckland.