Part 57

"Face with appressed or shortly projecting scales. Tongue developed. Antennæ in male bipectinated, towards apex simple. Palpi rough-scaled. Thorax sometimes crested posteriorly, hairy beneath. Femora nearly glabrous; posterior tibiæ in male dilated. Fore-wings in male with fovea; vein 10 sometimes connected with 9, 11 sometimes out of 10 near base only, or if separate, sometimes anastomosing with 12."--(Meyrick.) (Plate II., figs. 59 and 60, neuration of Selidosema dejectaria.)

This genus is universally distributed and of considerable extent. We have nine species in New Zealand.

SELIDOSEMA FENERATA, Feld.

(Rhyparia fenerata, Feld. cxxxi. 7. Zylobara fenerata, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 498. Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 97.)

(Plate VIII., fig. 50 , 51 .)

This species is common, and generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. The fore-wings of the male are very pale ochreous-brown; there is a double jagged transverse line near the base, a single jagged line a little before the middle, and a double one a little beyond the middle; an almost continuous jagged line near the termen. The hind-wings are very pale ochreous, almost white; their outline is peculiar; the dorsum is very short, the termen very long, first oblique and then rounded with a small projection midway between the apex and the tornus. The female has the fore-wings pale grey, and the hind-wings dull white; the markings resemble those of the male, but the outline of the hind-wing is of the usual form.

This insect varies slightly in the depth of its colouring. It may be distinguished from the allied species by the peculiar outline of the hind-wings in the male, and by the pale grey colouring of the female.

The perfect insect appears from October till March and is very common. It has a great liking for the faded fronds of tree-ferns, from which specimens may often be dislodged. Both sexes are very abundant at various blossoms during the evening, and are also attracted by light. The female is sometimes observed in the winter months, and probably hibernates.

SELIDOSEMA RUDIATA, Walk.

(Cidaria rudiata, Walk. 1420. Boarmia astrapia, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 218. Boarmia rudiata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiii. 101.)

(Plate IX., fig. 1 , 2 .)

This species is fairly common in the neighbourhood of Wellington, and has occurred at Dunedin, and at Stewart Island. It is probably generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1½ inches, of the female 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are very pale ochreous-brown; there are two interrupted jagged transverse lines near the base; a single very indistinct line in the middle; a double, nearly continuous jagged transverse line beyond the middle; a double jagged line near the termen completely interrupted in the middle; there is generally a dark patch on the termen just below the apex of the wing. The hind-wings are very pale ochreous. There is a series of black dots on the termen of both fore-wings and hind-wings, and the termen of the hind-wing is slightly indented.

This species varies a good deal in size; the specimens from Stewart Island are {83}considerably larger and have more distinct markings, than those found in the vicinity of Wellington.

The larva is cylindrical, of even thickness throughout, and almost uniform dull greyish-brown in colour, occasionally with a series of small oblong black marks on segments 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. It feeds on the young leaves and buds of the ake ake (Olearia traversii). It is extremely difficult to find as it almost exactly resembles a twig of its food-plant. It is full grown about April.

The pupa is concealed in the earth.

The perfect insect appears from October till March. It seems to prefer cultivated districts, and is generally observed at rest on garden fences or tree-trunks. It also frequents flowers in the evening.

SELIDOSEMA SUAVIS, Butl.

(Pseudocoremia suavis, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 497. Pachycnemia usitata, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 501. Pseudocoremia lupinata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 98. Boarmia suavis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiii. 101.)

(Plate IX., fig. 3 , 4 .)

This species is very common and generally distributed throughout the country, and has occurred as far south as Stewart Island.

The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings of the male are dull yellowish-brown, speckled with black; there are two curved transverse lines near the base; a very obscure line near the middle, darker on the costa; two doubly curved lines beyond the middle, slightly darker on the dorsum; and two very faint jagged lines near the termen. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, tinged with brown near the termen. The female has narrower wings, shorter body, and is usually duller in colour than the male.

This insect is rather variable, some specimens of both sexes being much darker than others; but all the forms may usually be recognised by their dull speckled colouring and absence of conspicuous markings.

The larva feeds on the white rata (M. scandens) and the tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa).

Its length when full grown is about 1-1/8 inches. The upper surface is dark reddish-brown with numerous blackish stripes and white markings, which give it a very variegated appearance; the under side is pale green; there are two small tubercles on the back of the eighth segment.

The pupa is concealed amongst refuse on the ground, the larva constructing no cocoon before changing.

The perfect insect appears from October till April, and may often be observed on mild days in the middle of winter. It is common in forest districts, where it is usually seen resting on the tree-trunks, in which situation its colouring must afford it efficient protection from many enemies.