Part 7

(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).