  The ArctiadÆ may be characterised as follows:— "Eyes smooth. Tongue developed. Posterior tibiÆ with all spurs present. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 connate or stalked (rarely approximated or coincident), 8 anastomosing with cell nearly or quite from base to middle or beyond."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 1, 2, and 4, 5.) This interesting family, although generally distributed throughout the world, is very poorly represented in New Zealand. Unlike most of the Caradrinina, many of the included species are day fliers and gaily coloured. One of these, Nyctemera annulata, is probably one of the most familiar of New Zealand insects, whilst the four remaining representatives of the family are but seldom seen. To British entomologists the name of Three genera of the ArctiadÆ are represented in New Zealand, viz.:— 1. Nyctemera.2. Utetheisa.3. Metacrias. Genus 1.—NYCTEMERA, Hb."Tongue well developed. AntennÆ in ? bipectinated throughout. Palpi moderately long, porrected or rather ascending, with appressed scales; terminal joint moderate, cylindrical. Forewings with vein 6 out of 9 or separate, 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9 by a bar. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 stalked or separate, 8 anastomosing shortly with margin of cell near base." (Plate II., fig. 3 head, 4 neuration of fore-wing, 5 ditto of hind-wing.) "The single New Zealand species is endemic, but nearly allied to an Australian form."—(Meyrick.) NYCTEMERA ANNULATA, Boisd. (Leptosoma annulata, Boisd., Voy. Astr. v. 197, pl. v. 9; Dbld., Dieff, N. Z. ii. 284. Nyctemera doubledayi, Walk., Bomb. 392. Nyctemera annulata, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1886, 700; ditto, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 218.) (Plate IV., fig. 1 ?, 2 ?; Plate III., fig. 9, larva.) This species is perhaps one of the best known of the New Zealand Lepidoptera, occurring in great profusion in all parts of both North and South Islands. It is also common at Stewart Island, in the neighbourhood of cultivation. The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. All the wings are deep sooty black. The forewings have an irregular cream-coloured band running from beyond the middle of the costa towards the tornus. This band is interrupted in the middle, and crossed by several black veins, which sometimes almost break it up into a chain of spots. The hind-wings have a single large cream-coloured spot near the middle. The body is black, with several orange markings on the thorax, and a series of broad orange rings on the abdomen. This species varies a good deal in the extent of the cream-coloured markings. The larva feeds on the New Zealand groundsel (Senecio bellidioides), but in cultivated districts it is more often observed on Senecio scandens, a plant having a superficial resemblance to ivy, which frequently grows in great profusion on fences and hedgerows in various parts of the country. Mr. W. W. Smith informs us[4] that it also feeds on the common groundsel (S. vulgaris) as well as on Cineraria maritima. I have often seen these caterpillars on mild days in the middle of winter, and full-grown specimens are very common towards the end of August, so that I think there is little doubt that the species passes the winter in the larval condition. At other seasons there is a continuous succession of broods. The length of the caterpillar when full grown is 1½ inches. It is covered with numerous tufts of long black hair, and is black in colour, with the dorsal and lateral lines dark-red. There are several large blue spots round the middle of each of the segments, and the membrane between each segment is bluish-grey. In younger larvÆ the bluish-grey colouring extends over a considerable portion of the insect. This caterpillar may be readily found, as it feeds on the upper surface of the leaves fully exposed to view. Its hairy armour evidently renders it unpalatable to birds, and hence the secret habits we observe in most larvÆ are absent in this species. When full-fed it selects a secluded spot, generally a crevice in the trunk of a tree, where it spins an oval cocoon of silk intermixed with its own hairs. Here it changes The moth first appears in September, and continues abundant until about the end of March. It is extremely common, especially during the latter end of summer, when specimens may often be seen flying in all directions. Mr. Meyrick observes[5] that this species has the curious habit of soaring in the early morning sunshine, soon after sunrise, in calm, fine weather. He states that he has seen them in numbers, flying round the tops of trees, at a height of over 100 feet. I can fully corroborate the accuracy of this interesting observation, and have noticed the insect to be most active between the hours of five and eight on fine mornings in midsummer. The habit is certainly a very unusual one, as most insects are rarely seen at that time of the day. This moth is confined to New Zealand, but two closely allied species, belonging to the same genus, are found in Australia. Genus 2.—UTETHEISA, Hb."Head smooth. Ocelli large. AntennÆ in ? ciliated, with longer setÆ at joints. Palpi moderate, ascending, with loosely appressed scales. Thorax smooth beneath. Abdomen smooth-scaled. TibiÆ smooth-scaled, spurs very short. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9. Hind-legs with veins 3, 4, 5 rather approximated, 6 or 7 connate or short-stalked, 8 from middle of cell." "A small genus inhabiting the warmer regions of the world. Larva with rather scanty hairs, some finely branched."—(Meyrick.) Represented in New Zealand by a single species of wide distribution. UTETHEISA PULCHELLA, L. (Deiopeia pulchella, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 217.) (Plate IV., fig. 3.) This species was first observed in New Zealand in February, 1887, when I captured a single specimen in the Wainui-o-mata valley. Since that time Mr. A. Norris has seen two others near Petone, one of which is now in his collection. All the specimens at present noticed have consequently occurred in a very restricted portion of the Wellington District, though it is probable that the insect is far more generally distributed throughout the country than these records would seem to indicate. The expansion of the wings is about 1¼ inches. The fore-wings are white, with five irregular transverse rows of oblong crimson spots, alternating with six irregular rows of small black dots. The hind-wings are white, irregularly clouded with black on the termen; there are two small black spots near the middle. The body is white; the head and thorax are spotted with crimson, and the antennÆ are black. The larva is thus described by Newman:—[6] "The ground colour is leaden with a covering of black hairs; there is a broad white stripe down the back, and on each segment down the side is a double scarlet spot. On the continent of Europe this caterpillar is said to feed on the forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)." In New Zealand the moth appears in February. Mr. Meyrick remarks[7]:—"It is probably only an occasional immigrant. Although a feeble-looking insect, it possesses extraordinary capabilities of flight, and is sometimes met with far out at sea. It occurs throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands." It is well known to Genus 3.—METACRIAS, Meyr."Tongue obsolete. AntennÆ in ? moderately bipectinated throughout. Palpi rather short, hairy, concealed in rough hairs of head. Thorax and femora densely hairy beneath. Anterior tibiÆ with developed spine beneath, and apical hook. Fore-wings with vein 2 from ?, 6 from point with or out of 9, 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 sometimes connected with 9 at a point above 7. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 almost from point, 6 and 7 from point or short-stalked, 8 from about ?. Wings in ? rudimentary. (Plate II., fig. 1 neuration of fore-wing, fig. 2 ditto of hind-wing.) "An interesting and peculiar genus, apparently most allied to some Australian forms of Spilosoma, but quite distinct. Three species have been discovered, two of them quite recently, and it is not unreasonable to hope that additional forms may hereafter be found amongst the mountains, to which they seem especially attached."—(Meyrick). METACRIAS STRATEGICA, Hdsn. (Arctia strategica, Hdsn., Entom., 1889, 53. Metacrias strategica, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.) (Plate IV., fig. 4.) This handsome species is at present only known by a single specimen, captured by Mr. W. W. Smith, near the summit of the Richardson Range, in South Canterbury, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The expansion of the wings of the male is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are black, with two broad, dull yellow, longitudinal streaks; between the costa and the first streak is a very fine yellowish line, and between the two streaks there are three similar lines. The hind-wings are bright yellow, with a broad black band, parallel to the termen, interrupted just before the tornus; the vicinity of this black band is tinged with crimson. The body is black; the top of the head, collar, and sides of the thorax and abdomen are dull yellow. The female is probably apterous. This species may be readily distinguished from the two following by the yellow collar, absence of any large spot in the centre of both fore-wings and hind-wings, and the red colouring of the termen of the hind-wings. The moth was taken in February, frequenting a species of CarmichÆlia. It may be looked for in the mountainous regions of South Canterbury, but at present nothing further is known of its habits. METACRIAS ERICHRYSA, Meyr. (Metacrias erichrysa, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1886, 749; ditto, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.) (Plate IV., fig. 5.) This species was discovered by Mr. Meyrick on Mount Arthur in the Nelson District in 1886. Since that time I have taken eleven specimens in the same locality, and have seen several others, but as yet I have not heard of its occurrence elsewhere. The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are black, with orange-yellow markings. These consist of a fine line near the costa, becoming very broad near the base, several elongate markings between the veins near the middle, a series of spots near the termen, and a broad streak parallel to the dorsum. The hind-wings are orange-yellow, with a curved black spot in the middle, and a broad black band on the termen, ending considerably before the tornus, and nearly broken a little before its termination. The female, according to Mr. Meyrick,[8] is "wholly whitish-ochreous; wings minute, aborted; legs short, stout, well developed." The life-history is thus described by Mr. Meyrick[9]: "The larva is wholly black, clothed with long black hairs, those covering segmental incisions brownish-ochreous. It feeds on Senecio bellidioides. The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon." The perfect insect occurs in January, frequenting sunny, grassy slopes on the mountain-sides, at about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It flies with great rapidity; hence it is generally very difficult to catch. METACRIAS HUTTONII, Butl. (Phaos huttonii, Butl., Cist. Ent. 487; Metacrias huttonii, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1886, 750; Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.) (Plate IV., fig. 6.) This interesting species was discovered at Lake Wakatipu, by Professor Hutton. The expansion of the wings of the male is 1? inches. The fore-wings are black; there is an oblique crimson line near the base, two broad longitudinal cream-coloured lines above and below the middle, and a double transverse series of oblong cream-coloured spots near the termen. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, with a black crescent-shaped spot near the middle, and a broad black band almost touching the termen except a little before the tornus. The female is apterous. Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. |
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