208 Transactions. — Zoology. 



for their only being observed at regular fixed periods. When 

 we are more conversant with the details of the lives of these 

 insects through their different stages of existence, we shall, 

 doubtless, be in a position to give an easy solution to many of 

 the problems that puzzle us now. 



Art. XXXIX. — Life History of Epyaxa rosearia, Dbld. 

 By A. Purdie, M.A. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 23rd September, 1885.] 



The object of this short paper is to describe the life history of 

 the above moth, and also to correct some errors in Mr. Meyrick's 

 description of the adult insect. These errors are not the result 

 of inaccurate observation, but of having bad specimens. This 

 moth, although not distinguished by bright colouring, is inte- 

 resting, as being one of those species in which the male and 

 female differ much in colour. So much do they differ, that in 

 the case of most, if not of all, these species the male and female 

 were at first described as distinct species ; but this is not so 

 remarkable, for one of these authors has given as many as ten 

 different names to one species. 



Taking now the three stages of this insect : 



The egg is oval, smooth, and of a pale yellow colour. 



The caterpillar is a looper — that is, it has pro-legs only on 

 the 10th and 13th segments ; and two specimens of it were 

 found about the 1st of August, nearly full-grown, on water- cress 

 in the mouth of an old mining tunnel near the Waterworks. 



Description of caterpillar. — Length, at rest, about three- 

 quarters of an inch. Colour light-green, with indistinct whitish 

 longitudinal lines, and a narrow median dorsal stripe of the 

 ground colour, edged on each side by one of these whitish lines ; 

 a subdorsal whitish line on each side of the median stripe ; the 

 ground colour shows again as a lateral line, edged below with 

 whitish. Under-side with delicate whitish or yellowish longi- 

 tudinal tracings, as on the upper side. The junctions of the 

 segments show yellowish or whitish rings when the larva con- 

 tracts. 



Head, greenish-yellow. Body tapering somewhat to the 

 head. 



Chrysalis enclosed among the withered leaves of the cress 

 above ground ; very dark brownish-black, glossy. 



A pair of the perfect insects emerged about the second week 

 of September. Mr. Meyrick's descriptions are evidently taken 

 from more or less faded cabinet specimens : hence there are 

 errors unavoidable in the case of a naturalist not having access 



