Part 43

The expansion of the wings is barely 1 inch. All the wings are deep ochreous; the fore-wings have an oblique white line running from the dorsum near the base, towards the middle of the wing; this line is edged with blackish-brown towards the dorsum; there is a very conspicuous white transverse line at about three-fourths shaded with brown towards the body; the apex of the fore-wing slightly projects. The hind-wings have no markings.

The perfect insect appears in December and January. It seems to be fairly common, frequenting Carex subdola.

Described and figured from a specimen kindly given to me by Mr. Fereday.

XANTHORHOE MNESICHOLA.

(Larentia mnesichola, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 56.)

(Plate VII., fig. 39 .)

This dull little species has occurred in the South Island on Mount Arthur, at elevations of from 4,000 to 4,800 feet.

The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are pale brownish-ochreous, and rather glossy; there is a series of minute black dots at the base, a second series at about one-third, then a cloudy curved band, slightly darker than the rest of the wing, followed by a third series of minute black dots; a fourth series is situated slightly before the termen. The hind-wings are very pale brownish-ochreous.

The perfect insect appears in January. Mr. Meyrick states that it is rather common.

XANTHORHOE PRÆFECTATA, Walk.

(Acidalia præfectata, Walk. 781. Acidalia subtentaria, Walk. 1610. Acidalia absconditaria, Walk. 1611; Butl., Cat. pl. iii. 21. Larentia præfectata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 78.)

(Plate VII., fig. 30.)

This interesting species has occurred in the South Island at the Dun Mountain, Mount Arthur, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. All the wings are pure white; the fore-wings have a minute grey dot above the middle, a series of extremely minute dots a little before the termen, and several rows of very faint grey marks close to the termen. The hind-wings have a row of very obscure dots across the middle, and several rows of very faint grey marks close to the termen. The face and collar are brown, and there is sometimes an extremely faint brown tinge on the costal edge of the fore-wings. The body is pure white.

The perfect insect appears in November, December, January, and February. I do not think it is a very common species, and at present I have only observed it on the Dun {61}Mountain near Nelson, at an elevation of about 2,700 feet above the sea-level. Here I took several specimens on the flowers of an Alpine veronica in the dusk of evening, and saw several others, which I was unable to capture. Mr. Meyrick has taken it on Mount Arthur at an elevation of 4,500 feet, and Mr. Fereday states that it frequents swampy places near Christchurch.

XANTHORHOE NEPHELIAS, Meyr.

(Larentia nephelias, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 78.)

This species was discovered by Mr. Meyrick in the South Island at Arthur's Pass, West Coast Road, and he has since taken it on Mount Arthur.

"Male, female.--The expansion of the wings is 32-34 mm. (about 1¼ inches). Fore-wings moderate, in female narrower and more elongate, termen rounded; pale whitish-grey, slightly ochreous-tinged; an indistinct suffusion of dark fuscous scales before middle; a small dark fuscous discal dot; a rather irregular cloudy dark fuscous line beyond middle, sinuate beneath costa, shortly angulated in middle; a very faint stria beyond this; a terminal band composed of two rows of cloudy partially confluent dark fuscous spots, separating on costa; cilia pale whitish-grey. Hind-wings moderate, in female narrower, termen rounded; ground colour as in fore-wings, with a few grey scales posteriorly.

"A remarkable-looking species.

"I took two fine specimens above Arthur's Pass (4,600 feet), in January."--(Meyrick).

I am unacquainted with this species. It is evidently very conspicuous and distinct.

XANTHORHOE CATAPHRACTA, Meyr.

(Larentia cataphracta, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 79.)

(Plate VII., fig. 33 , 34 .)

This large and conspicuous species has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur, Arthur's Pass, Lake Guyon, and Lake Wakatipu.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-5/8 inches, of the female 1½ inches. The fore-wings are dull yellowish-brown, with numerous slightly waved oblique black and white transverse bands; one very broad white band is situated near the middle, and another at about three-fourths; there is a broad longitudinal reddish-brown line on the costal edge, in which the transverse lines almost disappear; there is also a pale, somewhat triangular, area at the apex. The hind-wings are very pale greyish-ochreous. The cilia of all the wings are very pale ochreous. The female is duller and paler than the male.

The perfect insect appears from December till March, and frequents grassy slopes on the mountain sides, at elevations of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet. I observed this insect in great abundance on the Humboldt Range at the head of Lake Wakatipu, but have not found it at any of the other Alpine localities I have visited, so I imagine that it is a rather local species.