Watt. — Ova of some of the Lepidoptera of New Zealand. 85 



Selidosema fenerata Feld. 



Rhyparia fenerata Feld., Reise der Nov., pi. cxxxi, fig. 7. Zylobara 

 fenerata Butl., Cist. Ent., 2, p. 498. Boarmia fenerata Meyr., 

 Trans. N.Z. Inst., 20, p. 61. Zylobara fenerata Meyr., Trans. N.Z. 

 Inst., 16, p. 97. See Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 24, p. 216, as to 

 Selidosema. Hudson, N.Z. Moths and Butterflies, p. 82, pi. 8, 

 figs. 50, 51 ; Trans. N.Z. Inst., 32, p. 11 : Fereday, List N.Z. 

 Lep., Trans. N.Z. Inst,, 30, p. 345. 



This moth is rare in the Wanganui district. 



™ -™ Ovum. 



Class. — Flat. 



Shape. — As seen from above, oval ; greatest diameter nearest micro- 

 pylar end, which is flattened and not quite at right angles to the longi- 

 tudinal axis. Micropylar end broader than its nadir, which is well rounded. 

 Transverse section oval ; top and bottom flattened. 



Dimensions. — Length, 0-72 mm. ; greatest width, 0-54 mm. ; height, 

 0-42 mm. 



Sculpture. — Strong. Surface of shell covered with deep, irregular 

 hexagonal cells, about 0-06 mm. diameter. In some eggs the cells show a 

 slight arrangement, being either in rows extending the whole length of the 

 egg or in bands traversing the egg at right angles to the longitudinal axis ; 

 but in all cases such rows or bands are very irregular. Each angular point 

 of the cells is surmounted by a minute white elevation. 



Micropyle. — The shell immediately surrounding the micropyle is de- 

 pressed, while the micropyle itself, situated in a rosette of elongated cells, 

 is raised. Total diameter, 0-10 mm. Very indistinct. The small white 

 elevations cease at the margin of the rosette. 



Shell. — Shiny ; strong ; transparent ; roughened within cells. 



Colour. — Dark green. Dark-brownish areas appear in about a week. 



Note. — Laid singly. They are but slightly attached to object, Laid 

 in September, and hatch in about three weeks. The eggs get dented slightly 

 soon after being laid. 



(Described, 20th September, 1912.) 



Selidosema dejectaria Walk. 



Boarmia dejectaria Walk., I.e., p. 394 ; Butl., Cat. Lep. N.Z., p. 12, 

 and Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., p. 390 ; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 

 16, p. 100. See Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 24, p. 216, as to 

 Selidosema. Hudson, N.Z. Moths and Butterflies, p. 86, pi. 9, 

 figs. 19-24; Fereday, List N.Z. Lep., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 30, 

 p. 316. 



This beautiful moth is common around Wanganui throughout the 

 summer. Three varieties of it are also common. 



,.,, ™ Ovum. 



Class.— Flat. 



Shape. — This egg is very much like a fowl's in shape, but the broadest 

 end (micropylar) has not a regular curve, one side being slightly bulged. 

 A transverse section of the egg is oval ; the top and bottom surfaces are 

 slightly flattened. 



Dimensions. — Length, 0-82 mm. ; height, 0-58 mm. ; width, 0-68- 

 0-70 mm. 



