78 Transactions. 



Rhapsa scotosialis Walk. 



Herminia lilacina Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, p. 388, pi. xlii, 

 fig. 11. Rhapsa scotosialis Walk., Cat. Lep. Brit. Mus., 34, Supp., 

 p. 1150 ; Butl., Cat. Lep. N.Z., p. 10 ; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 

 19, p. 38 ; Fereday, List N.Z. Lep., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 30, p. 337 ; 

 Hudson, N.Z. Moths and Butterflies, p. 36, pi. 6, figs. 5, 6. 



This little moth is extremely common about Wancranui throughout the 

 year. 



Ovum. Plate I, fig. 12. 



Class. — Upright. 



Shape. — Transverse section circular. Longitudinal section : Base flat ; 

 sides bulging outwards just above the base and then converging at an 

 angle of 45 degrees, making the upper surface of the egg conical in shape. 



Dimensions. — Height, 0-49 mm. ; greatest diameter, 0-75-0-77 mm. 



Sculpture. — The shell is covered with minute white elevations 0-005 mm. 

 diameter, joined by slender reticulations, forming extremely shallow regular 

 hexagonal cells 0-01 mm. diameter. Base smooth. 



Micropyle. — 'Consists of a star-shaped cell surrounded by a rosette of 

 twelve elongated cells. The small white elevations before referred to sur- 

 round the outer margin of the rosette. 



Shell. — -Strong ; transparent ; shiny ; slightly roughened or velvety 

 surface. 



Colour. — Very light green turning to a steel-grey, and later to a slaty 

 colour. In about a week the colour is light yellow, and soon after the egg 

 is marbled with reddish-brown markings. A few days before hatching the 

 larva can be seen within the egg quite plainly. Infertile eggs turn a light 

 blue, and collapse. 



Note. — Laid singly. Well attached to object. The micropylar end col- 

 lapses about a week after the egg is laid, forming a deep depression in the 

 top of the egg. Batches of eggs obtained in April, July, September, October, 

 November, and December. Period of incubation, about three weeks. The 

 larva emerges at micropylar end of egg, and sometimes makes a meal off 

 the shell. 



(Described, 29th April, 1912.) 



Euchoeca rubropunctaria Dbld. 



Ptychopoda rubropunctaria Dbld., Dieff. N.Z., 2, p. 287. Hippolyte 

 rubropunctaria Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 16, p. 60 ; ib., 17, p. 63. 

 Epicyme rubropunctaria Meyr., ib., 18, p. 184 ; Fereday, List 

 N.Z. Lep., Tran&. N.Z. Inst., 30, p. 338. Euchoeca rubropunctaria 

 Hudson, N.Z. Moths and Butterflies, p. 51, pi. 6, fig. 35. 



This pretty little moth is scarce in the Wanganui district. 



~, -™ Ovum. 



Class.— Flat. 



Shape. — Wafer-like. Longitudinal section oval ; micropylar end flat- 

 tened, broader than its nadir. Transverse section oval ; top and bottom 

 much flattened ; micropylar end higher than its nadir. 



Dimensions. — Length, 0-56-0-58 mm. ; width, 0-37 mm. (at micropylar 

 end) ; height, 0-33 mm. when laid, and a week or so later about 0-28 mm. 



