II.— THE NOTODONTINA. 55 



ASAPHODES ABKOGATA, Walk. 



(Aspilates abrogata, Walk. 1075. Fidonia (?) servularia, Gn., E. M. M. v. 43. Z%o?i£ abrogata, Meyr., 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 61. Asapkodes abrogata, Meyr., ib. xviii. 1H4.) 



(Plate VII., fig. 21 <? .) 



This species has occurred at Murimutu in the North Island ; and in the South 



Island at Kekerangu, Christchurch, Castle Hill, Dunedin, and Invercargill. 



The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. .1// the wings are ochreous with pair brown markings. The 

 fore-wings have a conspicuous dot in the middle, a wavy transverse line a little beyond the middle, 

 another line just before the termen, and a brown shading on the termen broader near the apex of the 

 wing. The hind-wings have a brown central dot and two transverse lines. The cilia of all the wings 

 are brownish. 



This species varies considerably in the distinctness of the brown markings, and there 

 is occasionally a transverse line near the base of the fore-wings. 



The perfect insect appears in February and March, and frequents open country, often 

 at elevations of from -2,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It is, I think, rather a local 

 species, though abundant where found. I met with it in considerable numbers on the 

 chalk range near Kekerangu in the Marlborough Province. 



ASAPHODES SIKIS, Hawth. 

 (Asaphodes siris, Hawth., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxix. 283.) 

 (Plate VII., fig. 16.) 

 This interesting little species was discovered near Wellington by Mr. Hawthorne. 

 The expansion of the wings is about f inch. The fore-wings are dull ochreous ; there is a small 

 curved brown patch near the base ; then a pale band, followed by a very broad brown central band, 

 paler in the middle ; there is a very sharp projection on the outer edge of the central band, a 

 conspicuous black dot in the centre of the wing, and a series of minute black dots on the termen. The 

 hind- wings are pale ochreous, with a faint central transverse line. 

 The perfect insect appears in March. 

 Described and figured from the type specimen in Mr. Hawthorne's collection. 



ASAPHODES MEGASPILATA, Walk. 



(Larentia megaspilata, Walk. 1198. Cidaria assata, Feld. exxxi. 4. Gidaria nehata, Feld. exxxi. 6. 



Harpalyce megaspilata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 63. Probolaa megaspilata, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.) 



(Plate VII., tigs. 17, is, and 19 $ ; figs. 19a and '20 ? , varieties.) 



This species is very common, and generally distributed throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are dull ochreous ; there is a series 

 of fine brown and reddish wavy transverse lines near the base, forming a rather broad basal band ; 

 then a pale central area containing a blackish dot above the middle ; next, a very distinct band made 

 up of several fine wavy grey lines, with a rounded projection near the middle ; this is followed by 

 numerous pale brown curved marks forming more or less broken transverse lines; there is always an 

 oblique slaty patch below the eipex, and a series of minute dots on the termen. The hind-wings are 

 ochreous brown, slightly darker towards the base, with numerous indistinct wavy brown lines. The 

 apex of the fore-wing is very pointed and slightly hooked downwards; the termen is bowed near the 

 middle. The female is much duller and more uniform in colour than the male, and the antenna' are 

 simple. 



This species is very variable. Some male specimens have several more or less 

 distinct white markings on the middle of the fore-wings ; the transverse bands also differ 

 considerably in both size and intensity. The females are not so variable ; but in some 

 specimens the bands on the fore-wings are almost absent, whilst others have the fore- 

 wings rich brown, with a very conspicuous dark central band. 



