  "Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, parallel to 4, rising from about or below middle of transverse vein, 8 free or anastomosing shortly near base or seldom from near base to beyond "Ovum subcylindrical, smooth. Larva more or less elongate, usually with few hairs, prolegs on segments 7, 8, and sometimes 9 rudimentary or absent. Pupa subterranean or in bark."—(Meyrick.) According to Mr. Meyrick this is to be regarded as a decaying family. In Australia it is still prominent, being represented there by nearly 100 known species. We have two genera represented in this country— 1. Dichromodes.2. Theoxena. Genus 1.—DICHROMODES, Gn."Face smooth. Palpi long, straight, porrected, roughly scaled above and beneath. AntennÆ in male pectinated on inner side only. Fore-wings with vein 6 from a point with 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 anastomosing moderately with 9, 11 separate, approximated to 10 in middle, 12 free. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 separate, 8 free, closely approximated to 7 from base to near transverse vein."—(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 44 and 45, neuration of D. petrina.) There are three species belonging to this genus known in New Zealand. DICHROMODES NIGRA, Butl. (Cacopsodos niger, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc., Lond. 1877, 395, pl. xliii. 4. Dichromodes nigra, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 60.) (Plate VIII., fig. 40.) This little insect has been taken at Nelson. The expansion of the wings is ? inch. All the wings are dull black. The fore-wings have a darker central area, bordered by two jagged pale grey transverse lines, the first at about one-third and the second at about two-thirds; there is also a faint line near the termen. The hind-wings have a very obscure dark central line. 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 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. |
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