L06 NEW ZEALAND MACBO-LEPIDOPTEBA. 



The expansion of the wings varies from 2| to '2 ; j inches. Above, all the wings are Mark. 

 becoming bronzy towards the body. The fore-wings have a band of dark red nearly across the 

 middle, ami a series of three sum)/ blue spots, ami three larger white spots near the apex. The 

 hind-wings have a broad dark red band near the termen, containing tiro pairs of black spats with 

 blue em/res. On the underside the fore-wings are dark brown, with a broad patch of red in the 

 middle, and a very conspicuous eye-like mark on the costa, consisting of a black central spot 

 surrounded by a blue ring, and encircled by a.yellow crescent towards the termen. The hind-wings 

 are brownish-grey, with many darker and paler markings; the four spots on the upper surface 

 are faintly indicated mi the under side by blackish rings and central dots; the colouring of the 

 under side varies a good deal. It is considerably darker and duller in some specimens than 

 in others. 



The egg, which is deposited on a nettle-leaf, is barrel-shaped, ornamented with a series 

 of longitudinal ribs meeting in a central spot on the top. It is pale green, with the ribs white. 

 The young larva, when first hatched, is dusky-yellow, with the spines black. In about a week 

 it moults for the first time, and is then of an almosl uniform brown, with the lateral lines faintly 

 indicated. Ten days later it again sheds its skin, after which time the white lateral markings 

 are considerably stronger. The full-grown larva varies from black to reddish-brown, with 

 interrupted pale lateral and dorsal lines. On the third and fourth segments there are four spines, on 

 the tilth to eleventh seven spines; the twelfth segment has six spines, and the thirteenth two spines 

 There are numerous white dots all over the larva. The spines vary from pale green to black, The 

 caterpillar is considerably attenuated at each end, the central portions being somewhat swollen. 

 Length about 1 A inches. 



This caterpillar constructs for itself a small font by fastening together several 

 of the leaves of its food-plant. In this dwelling it can feed, safely concealed 

 from all enemies. There are two kinds of nettles constituting the food of this 

 insect — one a small plant, which generally grows in little patches amongst ferns in 

 the forest (Urtica incisa), the other a large shrub or tree often found in rather 

 open situations near rivers (Urtica ferox). The shrub is easily recognised by the 

 formidable array of long, white spines which project from the midrib of each leaf. 

 The larva' of V. gonerilla are much more easily collected on the tree nettle than on 

 the dwarf species ; their leafy tents being easily detected by an examination of 

 the foliage. When once discovered the larva' are best obtained by cutting off, with 

 a pair of strong scissors, the leaves which form their habitations. Like most larva' 

 of the genus Vanessa, these caterpillars are extremely voracious and soon eat them- 

 selves out of house and home. Those feeding on the tree nettle have an unlimited 

 supply of leaves available both for food and shelter, but in the case of larvae, 

 which are dependent on the dwarf nettle for their supplies, no doubt individuals must 

 occasionally die of starvation, as we sometimes observe large patches of the Urtica 

 ni, -isa completely destroyed by the larva 1 of this butterfly. In some seasons these 

 larva' may be found as early as the middle of September, and continue abundant 

 until the middle or end of January. 



When full grown, this caterpillar suspends itself by the tail to a little patch of 

 silk, which it has spun on the under side of a leaf, having also drawn two or three 

 other leaves around it in the same way as the feeding larva. In this situation it 

 hangs, with the head and three anterior segments slightly curved upwards, for nearly 

 twenty -four hours before the transformation to the pupa state occurs. I have often 

 watched these larva; changing, and as their manoeuvres during the process exactlj 

 resemble those of Anosia erippus a special description is unnecessary. The actual 

 transformation may be easily observed in this species, as the larvae are common and 



