50 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



ceding species, and is not confined to forest streams. It is common in certain localities, 

 but is not nearly so generally distributed as Hydriomena rixata. 



HYDRIOMENA SIMILATA, Walk. 



(Cidaria similata, Walk. 1413. Gidaria timarata, Feld. cxxxii. 19. Gidaria similata, Meyr., 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 76.) 



(Plate VII., fig. 14.) 



This beautiful species has occurred at Napier and Wellington in the North Island, 

 and at Christchurch, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu, and Invercargill in the South Island. 



The expansion of the wings is 1\ inches. The fore-wings are dark brown, with the reins and 

 margins broadly shaded with bright green ; there are numerous irregular wavy blackish streaks forming 

 three ill-defined darker transverse bands; the first at the hase ; the second from one-fourth to about 

 two-thirds, partially divided into two from the costa downwards ; and the third near the termen 

 outwardly edged with white. The termen itself is bordered first with green, and then with a series 

 of fine black marks ; the cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings are very pale reddish-brown, darker 

 towards the dorsum, with numerous pale brown wavy transverse lines. There is a series of black 

 crescentic marks on the termen, and the cilia are pale reddish-brown. 



This species is rather variable. The spaces between the darker bands on the fore-wings are 

 usually green, but in some specimens this is partially or wholly replaced by pale yellowish-brown. 

 The dark bands also vary considerably in width and distinctness, and in many specimens the central 

 band is entirely divided by a conspicuous pale brown or green transverse space. 



The larva, according to Mr. Purdie, is about 1 inch long, cylindrical. Back a dull deep green ; 

 lateral stripe reddish-white, edged below with a darker colour ; ventral side lighter green, with four 

 parallel white or yellow lines close together, extending from the forelegs to the prolegs. Outer side 

 of prolegs white. There are traces of a median dorsal stripe of brownish-red on the anal segments. 

 Beaten from Coprosma. Found in January. Mr. Purdie states that he is not quite certain as to the 

 identification of the species, as the median belt of the fore-wings is much more distinctly defined, and 

 the colour is a duller green than is usual in H. similata. 



The perfect insect appears from November till March. It is generally found 

 resting on moss-covered tree-trunks, where its colouring affords it a most efficient 

 protection from enemies. 



HYDRIOMENA CALLICHLOEA, But]. 

 (Cidaria callicJUora, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 509; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 7G.) 

 (Plate VII., fig. 13.) 

 This beautiful insect has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at 

 Christchurch and Invercargill in the South Island. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are bright green, with three very 

 distinct wavy black transverse lines ; the first near the base, the second a little before the middle, and 

 the third considerably beyond the middle ; between these there is a number of fainter fine wavy lines. 

 The hind-wings are whitish with several very faint wavy transverse lines ; the cilia of all the wings 

 are dull yellowish-brown. 



The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. Described and 

 figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. 



HYDRIOMENA ARIDA, Butl. 



(Melanthia arida, Bull., Gist. Ent. ii. 505. Cidaria chaotica, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 70. 



Cidaria arida, Mcyi'., ib. xvii. 64.) 



Plate VII.", fig. 15.) 



This species has occurred in the South Island at Akaroa, Mount Hutt, Arthur's 



Pass, and Dunedin. 



The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are dull grey; there is a fine yellowish 



