Part 55

The perfect insect appears in February. It occurs quite commonly on the track to the Dun Mountain, near Nelson, frequenting openings in the birch forest, where it may be captured at rest on bare ground in the hot sunshine, at elevations of from 1,500 to 2,000 feet.

DICHROMODES GYPSOTIS, Meyr.

(Cacopsodos niger, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 94 (nec Butl.). Dichromodes gypsotis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 60.)

This insect was discovered by Mr. Meyrick at Lake Wakatipu in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings of the female is 13 mm. (½ inch). "Fore-wings rather narrow, costa sinuate, termen sinuate; white, slightly mixed with grey; dorsum narrowly grey; a slender black fascia almost at base; a slender black fascia at one-third, dentate inwards above middle, dilated on costa; a slender black fascia beyond middle, sharply angulated in middle, dilated on costa, connected below middle with preceding fascia by a suffused bar; close beyond this a rather broad parallel grey fascia; an indistinct grey subterminal line. Hind-wings moderate; termen rounded dark grey."--(Meyrick.)

Taken in December, at an elevation of about 1,500 feet above the sea-level.

DICHROMODES PETRINA, Meyr.

(Dichromodes petrina, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiv. 216.)

(Plate VIII., fig. 39.)

This dull-looking little insect has occurred at Paikakariki and Wellington in the North Island, and at Kekerangu in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch. The fore-wings are dull greenish-grey; there is a {79}black, wavy, somewhat broken transverse line at about one-third, and another at about two-thirds, enclosing a slightly darker central band, with a black dot above middle; there is also a darker shading on the termen, and an obscure wavy paler line. The hind-wings are grey, with an obscure wavy central line.

The perfect insect appears in January, February and March. It frequents dry, open, sunny situations, generally alighting on paths or roads. It is also attracted by light.

Genus 2.--THEOXENA, Meyr.

"Palpi moderate, triangularly scaled, porrected. Antennæ in male bi-ciliated with long tufts of cilia (5). Fore-wings with vein 6 from below 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 out of 9 above 7, 11 anastomosing shortly with 9, 12 free, closely approximated to 11 on areole. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 from a point or short-stalked, 8 free, closely approximated to 7 from base to near transverse vein."--(Meyrick.)

We have one species.

THEOXENA SCISSARIA, Gn.

(Panagra scissaria, Gn., E. M. M. v. 43. Theoxena scissaria, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 56.)

(Plate VIII., fig. 41.)

This delicate-looking species has occurred at Christchurch.

The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. All the wings are white. The fore-wings have a longitudinal, slightly curved black line, extending from a little beyond the base, almost as far as the termen below the apex; above this line there is a black dot at about one-third; the apex of the fore-wing is slightly hooked, and there is a row of minute black dots on the termen of both fore- and hind-wings.

The perfect insect appears in January. According to Mr. Fereday it frequents the plains near Christchurch, and towards the foot of Mount Hutt.

Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection.

Family 4.--ORTHOSTIXIDÆ.

"Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, rising from about middle of transverse vein, 8 connected with upper margin of cell by an oblique bar towards base."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 46 and 47.)

This small family is represented in New Zealand by a single genus only. The peculiar oblique bar connecting vein 8 with the cell towards base, combined with the development of vein 5, distinguish it from all other families. If there is any chance of confusion with those forms of Hydriomenidæ in which vein 8 is also connected by a bar (though in them the bar is placed beyond and not before the middle of cell), the absence of the characteristic areole of the Hydriomenidæ will be a further test.

Genus 1.--EPIRRANTHIS, Hb.

"Face with appressed scales. Tongue developed. Palpi very short or moderate, porrected or subascending, rough-scaled. Antennæ in male evenly ciliated. Thorax rather hairy beneath. Femora glabrous; posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings with vein 10 anastomosing with 9, 11 anastomosing with 12 and 10 before 9. Hind-wings with 6 and 7 separate."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II., figs. 46 and 47, neuration of Epirranthis alectoraria; fig. 48, head of ditto.)

Represented in New Zealand by two species.