544 



Transactions. 



Art. LVI. — Description of a New Species of Moth. 



By Alfred Philpott. 



Communicated by Dr. Benliam. 



[Read before the Otago Institufe, lith Septeviber, 1909.] 



Caradrinid^. 

 Melanchra pauca, n. sp. 



2 . 38 mm. Head brownish-black, with scattered whitish scales ; tuft 

 of greenish-yellow scales at base of antennae. Labial palpi brown, second 

 joint beneath and apex of terminal, white. Antennae brown, annulated with 

 whitish near base. Legs black, tibial apices and tarsal joints annulated 

 with white ; posterior tarsi reddish beneath. Thorax black, with frontal 

 collar of pale green and whitish-green lateral stripe. Abdomen fuscous, 

 anterior segments shading into grey. Forewings, costa almost straight, apex 

 subacute, termen oblique, pale yellow-green ; base narrowly black, with pro- 

 jection at middle ; a broad irregular 

 black fascia from dorsum near base, 

 touching basal patch, its apex con- 

 necting with similar fascia from costa 

 at ^ outwardly oblique to dorsum at 

 ^ ; this fascia encloses narrow line of 

 ground-colour from costa to vein 1 ; 

 a broad irregular black fascia at ^, 

 dilated on casta and joining first costal 

 fascia above dorsum ; stigmata ob- 

 scure, reniform, pale greenish, anteriorly outhned in black and followed by 

 a reddish patch ; a few dark scales in upper portion ; a triangular spot on 

 costa near apex, its base dilated and containing several spots of ground- 

 colour ; subterminal line irregular, interrupted, green ; terminal band 

 black, i}iterrupted from ^ to |^ ; veins faintly marked with black scales. 

 Hindwings fuscous. 



Type in collection Otago Museum. 



Not to be confused with any other species : exquisifa is green and black, 

 but the arrangement of the fascia? is quite different. Only three specimens 

 are known to me — two in the collection of the Otago Museum (labelled 

 " Wairarapa "), and one worn example in my own possession, taken in March, 

 at Wallacetown. I am indebted to Professor Benham for the loan of one 

 of the Otago Museum examples for the purpose of figuring. None of the 

 specimens available are in good condition, and the description of thoracic 

 crests and wing cilia had perforce to be omitted. 



