New Zealand Moths and Butterflies (Macro-Lepidoptera) - G. V. Hudson

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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."

      

      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 1⅛ 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.

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      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:—

Sub-family 1.—Poliades
01. Miselia. 02. Orthosia. 03. Xanthia.
Sub-family 2.—Melanchrides
04. Physetica. 05. Leucania. 06. Ichneutica. 07. Melanchra. 08. Erana.
Sub-family 3.—Caradrinides
09. Bityla. 10. Agrotis. 11. Heliothis. 12. Cosmodes.
Sub-family 1.—Poliades 01. Miselia. 02. Orthosia. 03. Xanthia.
Sub-family 2.—Melanchrides 04. Physetica. 05. Leucania. 06. Ichneutica. 07. Melanchra. 08. Erana.
Sub-family 3.—Caradrinides 09. Bityla. 10. Agrotis. 11. Heliothis. 12. Cosmodes.

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      "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 1⅓ inches. The fore-wings are dark brownish-black and rather glossy; there

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