170 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Lysiphragma howesii (mixochlora). 



Not uncommon. Its pupal cocoons may be found in- 

 similar situations to those of ejnxyla, but are not so con- 

 spicuous, being often almost hidden in the substance of the 

 bark. Mr. Ambrose Quail described this insect as hoiuesii, 

 but Mr. E. Meyrick's description of mixochlora seems to me to 

 fit it very well, and I have some doubts of its distinctness. 



Porina dinodes. 



I took about a dozen examples of this handsome moth at 

 light in March, 1902. The larvae live on the i^oots of grasses, 

 and inhabit deep tunnels lined with silk. When full-grown 

 they are nearly 4 in. long, and nmch lighter in colour than the 

 larvae of despecta or cervinata, being whitish-ochreous, with 

 paler neutral surface and darker thoracic segments. The 

 head is bright brownish-red. The tunnels are driven in rather 

 an oblique direction to a depth of from loin, to 20 in. Three 

 examples which I tried to rear pupated about the middle of 

 August, but failed to emerge from that state. I am strongly 

 of opinion that the larva of this moth is the " vegetable cater- 

 pillar." No other moth in this district known to me is large 

 enough to warrant the assumption that its larva may be the 

 host of the fungus. I have several times found the fungus- 

 attacked larvEe here, and, as far as a comparison between 

 these and the living larvae of P. dinodes can be trusted, I think 

 it bears out my opinion. 



P. cervinata. 



In November, 1900, I was successful in taking for the first 

 time females of this species. They are very rare in com- 

 parison with the males, and are duller in colour, with fewer 

 markmgs. 



Art. XTX. — Notes on an Insect found in some Hot Springs 



at Taupo. 



By J. W. POYNTON. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 2nd September, 1903.] 



About a mile from Lake Taupo, close to the Taupo-Napier 

 Eoad, are the well-known hot springs locally named the 

 " Black Terraces," from the terrace-formations of dark colour 

 formed by the principal springs. 



The terraces are of the usual kind. There is a pool of 

 water confined by a rim of siliceous deposit. The hot water 

 flows over this rim at the lowest part and falls into another 

 basin below. There are perhaps a dozen of these small 



