84 NEW ZEALAND MACEO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



other allied species these markings are but slightly inclined, and in some cases slope 

 in the reverse direction. 



The perfect insect appears from December till March. It frequents the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Wellington, but is not a common species. At present I am only 

 acquainted with the male insect. 



SELIDOSEMA PRODUCTATA, Walk. 



(Larentia productata, Walk. 1197 ('.'). Selidosema pungata, Feld. cxxxi. '23. Selidosema (?) fragosata, 



Feld. cxxxi. 29. Zylobara productata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 98.) 



(Plate IX., figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 $ varieties, 11, 12, 13, and 14 5 ditto; Plate III., 

 fig. '22, larva.) 



This species is very common, and generally distributed throughout both the 

 North and South Islands. It has also occurred at Stewart Island. 



The expansion of the wings of the male is lj| inches, of the female li inches. 



The fore-wings vary from pale yellowish-brown to rich chocolate -brown ; there are two 

 curved transverse lines near the base, generally enclosing a paler stripe between them; next a 

 broad dark central area ; then a wavy paler transverse line, usually followed by a very much 

 paler irregular band, generally formed by two partially disconnected patches, one on the costa 

 and one on the dorsum ; there is a jagged, whitish, transverse line near the termen, always 

 broken in the middle, and often shaded with black towards the base of the wing. The hind- 

 wings are ochreous, speckled with brown towards the dorsum ; there is usually a brown central dot. 



This is an extremely variable insect. In some specimens there are very extensive 

 white patches on the wings, whilst in others the colouring is almost uniform rich 

 brown, and the characteristic markings can only be detected with difficulty. It may, 

 however, be distinguished from the allied species by the interrupted pale jagged 

 transverse line near the termen and by the absence of greenish colouring. 



The eggs are oval with the surface honeycombed; they are pale green in colour. 



The young larva, when first hatched, is much attenuated, light reddish-brown with a broad 

 pale lateral stripe, and a few bristles. The full-grown larva measures about li inches in length; 

 it is rather slender and has a large hump on the sixth segment. Its colour is dark reddish- 

 brown, mottled and striped with dull white and greenish. 



It feeds on the white rata (Metrosidos scandens). During the day it firmly grasps 

 a stem of its food-plant with its prolegs, holding the rest of its body out from the 

 branch in a perfectly straight and rigid position. When in this attitude it so exactly 

 resembles a twig, that, even in the case of captive specimens, it is often a matter 

 of the greatest difficulty to find a caterpillar amongst the branches. Several times I 

 have even caught hold of a larva, thinking it to be a twig, so perfect is the 

 resemblance. At night these larva? become much more active, and by the aid of a 

 lantern they may then be seen busily walking about and feeding. 



The pupa, is enclosed in a slight cocoon about two inches below the surface of 

 the earth. The larva' of the autumnal brood remain in this condition during the 

 winter, but in the case of the spring and summer broods the pupa state only 

 occupies a few weeks. 



The moth appears from November till May. It is very common in forest 

 legions, and may be observed resting on the trunks of the trees, its pale yellow 

 hind-wings being completely concealed by the mottled brown fore-wings. In this 

 position the insect is almost invisible, and the protection afforded by its colouring 

 is at once apparent. In the autumn evenings it is often very abundant at the 

 blossoms of the white rata. 



