INTRODUCTION clxvii 



very variable species, Elachista with two (and no doubt others to be discovered) and 

 Batrachedi-a with eight allied forms, some, and perhaps all, attached to ferns, are apodemic 

 genera. The remaining 12 genera are all endemic and seem to be mostly intimately 

 related to one another. Thus Agonisrmis is said to be intermediate between Bah^achedra 

 and Hyposmocoma ; Rhinomactnim between the extensive genera N'eefysia and Aphtho- 

 netiis, while other genera represented by one or a few species seem to be special 

 developments of some of these larger genera. 



Carposinidae. — Thirty-three species of the genus Heterocrossa have been 

 described, and doubtless many others remain to be discovered. The species appear to 

 be often variable and very difficult to separate, a difficulty which will be much increased 

 by the discovery of new forms. The moths are often very numerous, being attracted 

 by light or disturbed from amongst foliage, especially that of the Ohia tree. They are 

 also commonly found at rest on tree-trunks, and once, when sheltering from a heavy 

 rain storm, I remember noticing half-a-dozen examples all close together on a single 

 stem of a tree-fern, none of these individuals much resembling one another, and perhaps 

 each formed a distinct species. The genus is not endemic and a species that I found 

 resting on tree-trunks near Sydney (N.S.W.) had a very Hawaiian-like appearance. 

 The caterpillars attack many kinds of fruit of forest trees and shrubs, e.g. of 

 Clerniontia and other Lobeliaceae, of Vacciniu))i, Eugenia, Pittosporioii, Mahoe, 

 Sideroxylon and, doubtless, many others. Others live in buds, e.g. those of Metro- 

 siderns. These caterpillars are sought after by the wasps of the genus Odynerus, and as 

 many as three dozen have been found in a single cell. They are also obtained by the 

 native birds, while the moths themselves are often caught and devoured by the 

 ' Elepaio' {Chasienipis) and by some of the Drepanididae, especially by those belonging 

 to the genus Oreoviyza. 



ToRTRiciDAE. — The single species of Eccoptocera is one of the commonest of 

 Hawaiian moths and is extremely variable. It is especially attached to Metrosiderus, 

 and its caterpillars are much sought after by the wasjDs of the genus Odynerus. There 

 is no reason to doubt its endemicity. Crocidosema plebeiana is a natural immigrant, 

 attached to the immigrant plant Sida, in the buds of which the caterpillar lives. It is 

 an important food-supply of the larvae of many of the endemic wasps, that frequent 

 the lowlands and lower mountain slopes, since it is excessively numerous and ubiquitous, 

 wherever its food-plant flourishes. Near Honolulu, Nesodynerus rudolphi, Odynerus 

 niontanus, and other wasps are always to be seen searching the 'Ilima' buds in their 

 season for these small caterpillars. Gyisononia leprartim is less abundant and may be 

 an introduction. If not, it is probably a natural immigrant and will be found elsewhere. 

 Adeloneura with half-a-dozen species described and others existing, is an endemic 

 genus. The caterpillars live in the pods of the Acacias, Acacia koa and Sophora 



