Part 65

During the day this larva rests quietly attached to the stem of its food-plant, where it is very difficult to detect, as the filaments so closely embrace the twig or tree-trunk that the whole insect exactly resembles a swelling in the stem.

The pupa of D. floccosa is enclosed in a loose cocoon on the surface of the ground.

The perfect insect appears about September, and continues in more or less abundance until the end of April. There are most likely several broods in a season, and, as we frequently meet with specimens of the moth on mild days in the middle of winter, it probably also hibernates.

This insect is usually observed at rest on fences and tree-trunks, where its grey mottled colouring causes it to closely resemble a patch of lichen.

{98}DECLANA JUNCTILINEA, Feld.

(Plate X., fig. 37 , 38 .)

This species has occurred occasionally in the Wellington Botanical Gardens. It is no doubt found elsewhere, but I cannot give any other localities with certainty.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1¼ inches, of the female 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings of the male are pale yellowish-brown, with two indistinct, irregular, transverse darker lines near the base, a conspicuous curved line a little beyond the middle, followed by a blackish patch; there is a series of very fine parallel oblique brown stripes on the costa, and several series of curved, blackish marks near the termen, and on the central portions of the wing. The fore-wings of the female are much greyer, with a conspicuous, irregular, white streak from the apex towards the dorsum, the central portions of the wing are white, and, with the exception of the fine, oblique costal stripes, the other markings of the male are usually absent. The hind-wings of both sexes are dull ochreous. The strongly pectinated antennæ of the male, and the oblique costal markings of both sexes, will at once distinguish this species from any of the varieties of Declana floccosa.

This moth varies in the intensity of the markings, which in some specimens are very indistinct.

The perfect insect appears from November till March. It is generally captured on blossoms in the evening.

DECLANA HERMIONE, n. sp.

(Plate X., fig. 36.)

A single specimen of this very handsome insect was captured at Khandallah near Wellington.

The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings are bright purplish-brown, clouded with silvery-white towards the middle and on the termen; there is a very fine oblique chocolate-brown mark at the base, a broad broken transverse band at about one-eighth; a fine curved transverse line at about three-fourths, shaded towards the termen; there are four wavy brown marks on the termen inclining obliquely upwards towards the costa; the termen itself is narrowly edged with chocolate-brown. The cilia are silvery mixed with brown; the termen is very strongly bowed. The hind-wings are grey, shaded with purplish-grey towards the termen; the cilia are grey.

The type specimen was captured at sugar in November.

DECLANA GRISEATA, n. sp.

(Plate X., fig. 32 .)

This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Lake Wakatipu in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-1/8 inches, of the female 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are dull slaty-grey, with a slightly paler central band; there is a fine oblique wavy transverse line at about one-fourth, another at about one-half, and indications of a third at about three-fourths; numerous minute black streaks are thickly scattered over the wing, especially near the base and the termen; the outline of the termen is very slightly scalloped. The hind-wings are pale grey, darker near the termen. The body is very dark slaty-grey. The antennæ of the male are not bi-pectinated.

The perfect insect appears in January, and is attracted by light. It is a scarce species.

DECLANA NIVEATA, Butl.

(Declana niveata, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 500. Atossa niveata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 104.)

This species has occurred at Dunedin, in the South Island.

"The expansion of the wings of the male is 30 mm. (about 1¼ inches). Fore-wings elongate-triangular, costa somewhat sinuate, termen rounded, dentate; dull white, faintly irrorated with grey; costa marked with short indistinct dark grey direct strigulæ; an irregular line towards base, and another twice angulated about two-thirds, obscurely indicated by dark grey scales; some scattered {99}dark grey strigulæ before termen. Hind-wings moderate, termen crenate, angularly projecting in middle; wholly white.

"I took one fine specimen at rest on a tree-trunk near Dunedin, in February."--(Meyrick.)

Family 6.--SPHINGIDÆ.

"Head with dense appressed hairs. Ocelli absent. Eyes glabrous. Antennæ thickened towards middle or posteriorly, in male ciliated with partial whorls. Labial palpi moderate, ascending, with dense projecting scales. Thorax densely hairy beneath. Femora densely hairy. Fore-wings with vein 1b furcate, 6 out of 8, 9 absent (rarely present in exceptional individuals). Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 approximated at base, 5 from middle of transverse vein, parallel to 4, 6 and 7 connate or stalked, 8 connected by oblique bar with margin of cell before middle, more or less approximated to 7 near beyond cell." (Plate I., figs. 12 and 13, neuration of Deilephila [after Meyrick].)

"This family is generally distributed, but is most plentiful in the tropics. The imagos are usually large insects, with stout, heavy bodies, elongate-triangular fore-wings with very oblique termen, and relatively small hind-wings; the wing muscles are very strong, and the flight exceptionally powerful. Ovum spheroidal, smooth. Larva stout, usually with an oblique, projecting anal horn, anterior segments sometimes retractile or raised in repose. Pupa subterranean."--(Meyrick.)