54 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



have long remained in the dark as to the explanation of such an unusual type of wing- 

 marking. 



VENUSIA XANTHASPIS, Meyr. 



(Hermionc xanthaspis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 61. Aulopola xanthaspis, Meyr., Lb. xviii. 184.) 



(Plate VI., fig. 32 3 .) 



This handsome insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur and at 

 Lake Guyon. 



The expansion of the wings is a little over 1 inch. The fore-wings are bright yellow ; there is a 

 broad pale reddish-brown bond on thecosta ; a conspicuous oval dark brown spot above the middle, often 

 touching the costal band ; a double series of minute, brown dots near the termen. The hind-wings 

 are pale yellow, with a double series of minute brown dots parallel to the termen. 



The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It is apparently a rare 

 species. Mr. Fereday has six specimens taken at Lake Guyon, and I have two specimens 

 captured on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. These 

 comprise, I believe, all the specimens at present taken. 



VENUSIA UNDOSATA, Feld. 



(Gidaria imdosata, Feld. exxviii. 2. Epiphryne undosata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst, xvi. GO.) 



(Plate VI., fig. 33 $ , 34 ? .) 



This neatly marked little insect has occurred at Napier and Palmerston in the North 

 Island ; and at Nelson, Mount Hutt, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Lake Wakatipu in the 

 South Island. 



The expansion of the wings is hardly an inch. All the wings arc pule yellow with a variable 

 number of fine jaye/ed reddish-brown transverse lines, which are usually most distinct towards the termen. 

 The fore-wings have a broad band of reddish-brown along the costal edge ; a blackish dot above the 

 middle just touching the costal band, and a small brown mark near the apex. The hind-wings have 

 a minute black dot a little above the middle. 



This species is rather variable : in some specimens the transverse lines are much 

 broader, forming bands of reddish-brown ; in others the whole of the wings are dull 

 reddish-brown, except a small yellow area near the base; whilst others are entire!// dull 

 greyish-brown with the transverse lines very faint, intermediate varieties between all these 

 forms also occurring. 



The larva, according to Mr. Purdie,° is about I inch lung, feeding on the Ribbonwood 

 (Plagianthus betulinus). The ground colour is green, with the dorsal and lateral stripes 

 white. The dorsal stripe is interlined with short black dashes, and there is a dark blotch 

 about the ninth segment. The dorsal and lateral stripes may be margined with purplish- 

 red. The under side is green. The larva- were found in April. 



The perfect insect appears from November till February, and frequents forest. 

 According to my experience it is rather a local species, although plentiful where found. 

 Mr. Meyrick states that it is "very common in bush, from August to February, and in 



May." f 



Genus 10.— ASAPHODFS, Meyr. 



" Face with a tuft or hardly projecting scales. Palpi moderate, porrected, rough-scaled. 

 Antennae in male bi-pectinated, apex simple. Thorax glabrous beneath. Posterior dime with all 

 spurs present. Fore-wings with areole simple. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell 

 from near base U> beyond middle."— (Meyrick.) (See Plate 11., figs. 35 and :di, neuration of 

 Asa j ili mles megaspilata.) 



We have live species of this genus in New Zealand. 



\. /.. 'Journal of Science' July, 1884. I Trans. X. '/.. Inst. x\i. GO. 



