INTRODUCTION clvii 



Genophantis, however, is an endemic genus (liable to prove apodemic on further 

 research in other countries) and the species of Homoeosoma are also endemic. All these 

 insects are attracted freely by light and all the species are common in their proper 

 haunts. Genophantis is attached to Euphorbiaceous, Homoeosoma to Composite plants. 

 The larvae are sometimes found stored up in the cells of Odynerus, and they are para- 

 sitized by the Ophionines of the genus Limnerium and Lathrostiziis and sometimes 

 by Che/onus blackburni. 



The most interesting species of this family is one whose caterpillar is excessively 

 abundant in the flowering stem of Argyroxiphumi, the silver sword plant, a composite 

 found plentifully near the summit and in the crater of Haleakala. Probably this insect 

 will form a new genus, the species being as yet undescribed. Of many hundreds of 

 caterpillars brought down from the crater to Honolulu in 1896 only one or two produced 

 moths. 



Galleriadae. — The single representative, Meliphora grisella, is of course an 

 importation with honey-bees, and of no special interest. 



Crambidae. — There are half-a-dozen endemic species of Talis, small obscure grass- 

 moths, some of which exhibit a good deal of variability in markings and colour. They 

 are able to flourish in the driest localities near the coast, and also frequent open parts of 

 the forest region in the high mountains. Most and probably all the species are under 

 favourable circumstances very numerous in individuals. They are easily disturbed in 

 the daytime and are attracted very readily to light at night. The larvae of one or more 

 species have been found at the roots of tufts of grasses. Of the habits of the single 

 Prionopteryx nothing is known and its claim to be endemic is quite uncertain. 



The Euchromhis is a foreign species, now fully established on several of the islands, 

 frequenting the lowlands and lower mountain slopes, below the line of forest. We have 

 seen it flying in numbers in the daytime amongst grass and Sida rhombifolia on 

 Molokai at elevations below 1000 ft. during the cooler months of the year. 



Pyraustidae. This is by far the most extensively represented family of the larger 

 Lepidoptera. Eighteen genera are at present known, but of these four — Nymphula, 

 Evergesiis, NomopJiila and Hellula — contain each a single foreign species only. On the 

 other hand five genera — Hyperedis, Projiiylaea, Meslolobes, Ori/iotnecyna and Pi'otaula- 

 cistis are endemic. Hyinenia is represented by one apodemic and widely distributed, 

 and one endemic species. The remaining eight genera, though apodemic, contain only 

 endemic species. Hellula unda/is, the caterpillar of which is the well-known ' Cabbage 

 web-worm ' of America, has of course been introduced by man, and Evergesiis anastom-o- 

 salis is a still more recent introduction from the oriental region. It is injurious to the 

 sweet potato, in the stems and tubers of which it burrows, and has already spread from 



