DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW LEPIDOPTERA. 



By E. Meyrick, B.A., F.E.S. 



NOCTUINA. 



Thalpochares, Hb. 



Thalp. coccophaga, n. sp. 



£ £. 18-21 mm. Head, palpi, antennae, and collar pale brownish- 

 ochreous ; thorax grey suffusedly irrorated with white. Abdomen 

 pale grey. Legs grey, irrorated with white. Forewings elongate- 

 triangular, costa very slightly concave, apex round-pointed, hind- 

 margin strongly rounded, oblique ; dull fuscous-reddish ; base 

 irrorated with white ; first, second, and subterminal lines very 

 slender, grey-whitish, distinct, subterminal running to apex ; space 

 between second and subterminal lines suffused with whitish towards 

 costa, forming a triangular patch, and sometimes less strongly 

 throughout ; hindmarginal area irrorated with white towards anal 

 angle : cilia fuscous-reddish, becoming grey towards anal angle, 

 tips white. Hindwings fuscous-grey, becoming ochreous-whitish 

 towards base ; cilia grey, tips whitish. 



Larva lG-legged, stout, whitish, head black; feeds on a species 

 of Coccus infesting a Macrozamia, living concealed in a cocoon-like 

 shelter formed of the exuvise of the Coccus, and finally pupating 

 therein. This mode of life is very singular, and not shared by most 

 other species of the genus, but the allied Tlwdp. communimacula 

 from Europe has similar habits. The present larva was discovered 

 by Mr. Geo. Masters, who found it in plenty, and satisfactorily 

 established that it feeds solely on the Coccus, and never touches 

 the plant. The species of Coccus is at present undetermined, and 



