116 NEW ZEALAND MACBO-LEPIDOPTEBA. 



" Ovum flattened — spherical or subcylindrical, reticulated and sometimes ribbed, 

 seldom smooth. Larva stout, with few hairs. Pupa attached by tail and a central 

 belt of silk, or sometimes unattached or subterranean." — (Meyriek.) 



We have two genera represented in New Zealand, viz. : — 

 1. Chrysophanus. 2. Lycena. 



Genus 1.— CHRYSOPHANUS, Hb. 



" Eyes glabrous. Club of antennae elongate. Fore-wings with vein 6 separate, 8 and 9 stalked." 

 (Plate I., figs. 15 and 16 neuration of C. salustius). 



"An extensive and nearly cosmopolitan genus. Larva short, stout, attenuated at 

 extremities, with short hairs. Pupa attached by the tail and central belt of silk, or 

 sometimes unattached on the ground." — (Meyriek.) 



There are three New Zealand species. 



CHRYSOPHANUS SALUSTIUS, Fabr. 



(Chrysophanus salustms, Fabr., Butler, Butterflies of N. Z., Trans. N. Z. Inst. x. 263. Chrysophanus 



rauparaha, Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. ix. 460. Chrysophamis maui, ib. x. 252.) 



(Plate XII., fig. 18 <?, 19 ?, 'JO and 21 under side; Plate XIII., figs. '2, 3, 4, and 5 varieties.) 



This pretty little butterfly appears to be very common in most parts of New 

 Zealand. I have records of its occurrence in abundance at various localities, from 

 Napier southwards to Invercargill. 



Tin' expansion of the wings varies from 1 to li inches. On the upper -tide all the ivings are 

 brilliant shining copper, with black markings. Fore-wings with three spots near the middle, then 

 a row of black spots, often forming a band nearly parallel with the termen, another row on 

 the termen, generally touching the narrow black border of the wing. Hind-wings resembling fore- 

 wings, except that there is only one elongate spot in the centre, and the terminal series of 

 spots is nearly always separated from the black border. In the female the black spots are 

 united and form bands, those on the termen often having violet or blue centres. The veins in 

 both sexes are indicated by black lines, which are often double in the male, when the vein itself 

 is coppery. On the under side the fore-wings are orange-brown, bordered with yellow ; the spots 

 resemble those of the upper side, except that the terminal series are generally faint or obsolete 

 towards the costa. The hind-wings vary from light yellow to dull brown ; the spots are dull 

 greyish, the posterior series often having white centres. 



From the foregoing it may be seen that the variation in this insect is considerable. 

 After a careful examination of a large number of specimens taken at various localities 

 in both North and South Islands, I am, however, unable to find characters of sufficient 

 constancy to entitle any of the forms to specific rank. The most striking of these 

 varieties appears to be that described by Mr. Bates as Chrysophanus feredayi.® (See 

 Plate XIII. , fig. 2, upper side; Plate XII., fig. 21, under side.) On the upper surface 

 it has the central series of spots almost forming a band in the male, and the coppery 

 ground colour is paler than in the typical form. On the under side the borders of 

 the fore-wings, and the whole of the hind-wings are dull brown. This form closely 

 resembles C. rauparaha, Fereday. f C. maui, Fereday, is evidently that variety of the 

 male having the veins bordered with two fine black lines. Mr. Fereday states that he 

 has never been able to find the female of his G. maui. This is readily accounted for by 

 the fact, that the female of C. maui is nothing more than the female of G. salustius. 



Recently two very remarkable aberrations of C. salustius have come under my 



Ent. Mon. Mag. iv. p. 53. \ 'Trans N. Z. Inst.' ix. IliO ; x. '252. 



