Part 8

"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.)