Meybick. — On Neio Zealand Lepidoptera. 215 



transparent ; a moderate black margin all round ; a narrow 

 black fascia on transverse vein ; apical half of posterior clear 

 space very dull orange, anteriorly black-margined; veins black, 

 posteriorly broad : cilia black. Hindwings elongate-ovate ; 

 colourless, transparent, with a narrow black margin ; veins 

 black ; a small black triangular spot on upper half of trans- 

 verse vein : cilia black. 



Christchurch to Dunedin ; common. Introduced from 

 Europe with the garden currant (Rlbcs), in the shoots of 

 which the larva feeds. 



AECTIAD^. 



Antennae not thickened. No maxillary palpi. Posterior 

 tibiae with all spurs present. Fore wings with vein 1 simple, 

 7 and 8 stalked. Hindwings with frenulum developed, Ic 

 absent, 6 and 7 stalked or approximated at base, 8 rising out 

 of upper margin of cell from beyond ^, completely coincident 

 with it towards base. 



Eepresented by one cosmopolitan species, and one small 

 endemic genus of Australian affinity. The family is nume- 

 rous in Australia, and many of the species are lichen-feeders 

 and would find abundant food in New Zealand, but these are 

 principally weak fliers and have perhaps been unable to reach 

 our shores. 



Antennae in <j bipectinated ; ? apterous . . . . Metacrias. 



„ „ filiform ; ? winged . . . . Deiopeia. 



7. Metacrias, Meyr. 



Tongue obsolete. Antennae in c? moderately bipectinated 

 throughout. Palpi rather short, hairy, concealed in rough 

 hairs of head. Thorax and femora densely hairy beneath. 

 Anterior tibiae with developed spine beneath, and apical hook. 

 Forewings with vein 2 from f , 6 from point with or out of 9, 

 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 sometimes connected with 9 at a point 

 above 7. Hindwings with veins 3 and 4 almost from pomt, 6 

 and 7 from point or short-stalked, 8 from about ^. Wings in 

 ? rudimentary. 



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 re- 

 cently, and it is not unreasonable to hope that additional 

 forms may hereafter be found amongst the mountains, to 

 which they seem especially attached. 



1. Hindmargin of hindwings crimson . . . . 14. strategica. 



„ „ not crimson . . 2. 



2. Forewings with a red subcostal streak from 



base . . . . . . . . . . IG. Jmttonii. 



Forewings without a red subcostal streak from 



base . . . . . . . . . . 15. erichrysa. 



