Part 30

(Plate VI., fig. 25 .)

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 , 27 .)

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 , 29 .)

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 .)

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.)