Philpott. — List of the Lepidoptera of Otago. 195 



Art. XII. — A List of tlie Lepidoptera of Otago. 

 Bj r Alfred Philpott. 



Communicated by Dr. W. B. Benham, F.R.S. 



[Rend before the (Hugo Institute, 7th December, 1915; received by Editors, 30th 

 December 1916; issued separately, 16th July. 1917.] 



In 1901 I published a " Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Southland " (Trans. 

 N.Z. hist., vol. 33, p. 167). In 1904 this was supplemented by " Notes on 

 Southern Lepidoptera "' (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 36, p. 161), which added many 

 species to the list and extended its scope to Otago. Since that date work 

 on our Lepidoptera has been steadily carried on, many more species have 

 been recorded and a large number of new forms described. There remains, 

 however, a great deal of work still to be done. The rugged and forest- 

 clad country of Fiordland has, so far, been almost entirely neglected, and 

 Stewart Island has received very little attention. Owing to the facilities 

 which rail and steamer afford, the neighbourhood of Lake Wakatipu has 

 received an undue share of attention, and it will probably be found that 

 when entomologically explored the vast block of mountainous country 

 lying between the Waiau River and the western coast will prove as rich 

 in species as the better-known Lakes district. 



I am indebted to other workers for much valuable information, freely 

 supplied. It is to be understood, however, that where I have used such 

 data I have had an opportunity of examining the species referred to, so that 

 the responsibility- for anv errors rests with mvself . To Messrs. W. G. Howes, 

 F.E.S., C. C. Fenwick, M. 0. Pasco, Charles E. Clarke, and F. S. Oliver 

 my most cordial thanks are due. Mr. G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., has placed 

 me under a debt of gratitude for his advice and interest in the carrying- 

 out of the work. Lastly, the authoritative series of " Revisions " by Mr. E. 

 Meyrick, F.R.S. , which have appeared in the later volumes of the Trans- 

 actions * have enabled me, I hope, to complete my task with a minimum 

 of synonymicai error. 



The list deals with a total of 671 species, comprised in 159 genera. 



Metacrias huttoxi (Butl.), Cist. Ent. 2, 487 ; Huds., N.Z. M. & B. 4, pi. 4, 6. 



Wakatipu. November to February. From 3,000 ft. to 5,000 ft. The 



form occurring on the Remarkables is much larger but otherwise identical. 



M. strategica Huds., Entom. (1889), 53 ; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. 22, 216. 

 Generally distributed in mountainous regions, and descending to the 

 lowland plains round Invercargill. It is somewhat remarkable that though 

 occurring on Flagstaff Hill (about 1,000 ft.) it does not appear to be found 

 on the less elevated country in the vicinity of Dunedin. The perfect insects 

 appear about the middle of November and are over by the end of January. 

 The larvae feed on various grasses, both indigenous and introduced ; during 

 the winter they hibernate, and may be found under logs and at the base 

 of tufts of grass. The species frequents open country, but penetrates into 

 the forest wherever there are grassy tracks. 



* Vol. 43, p. 78; vol. 44, p. 88; vol. 45. p. 30; vol. 47, p. 205. 



