78 NEW ZEALAND MACBO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



middle (then without areole of fore-wings) ; approximated to upper margin of cell to middle or 

 beyond." (See Plate II., figs. 44 and 45.) 



"Ovum subcylindrical, smooth. Larva more or less elongate, usually with few hairs, prolegs 

 on segments 7, 8, and sometimes 9 rudimentary or absent. Pupa subterranean or in bark." 

 — (Meyrick.) 



According to Mr. Meyrick this is to be regarded as a decaying family. In 

 Australia it is still prominent, being represented there by nearly 100 known species. 



We have two genera represented in this country — 



1. DlCHROMODES. 2. ThEOXENA. 



Genus 1.— DlCHROMODES, Gn. 



" Face smooth. Palpi long, straight, porrected, roughly scaled above and beneath. Antennae 

 in male pectinated on inner side only. Fore-wings with vein 6 from a point with 9, 7 from 

 angle of areole, 10 anastomosing moderately with 9, 11 separate, approximated to 10 in middle, 

 12 free. Hind-wings with veins G and 7 separate, 8 free, closely approximated to 7 from base 

 to near transverse vein." — (Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 44 and 45, neuration of D. petrina.) 



There are three species belonging to this genus known in New Zealand. 



DICHEOMODES NIGEA, Butl. 



(Cacopsodos niger, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc, Loud. 1877, 395, pi. xliii. 4. Dichromodes nigra, Meyr., 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. GO.) 



(Plate VIII., fig. 40.) 



This little insect has been taken at Nelson. 



The expansion of the wings is £ inch. All the wings are dull Hack. The fore-wings have a 

 darker central area, bordered by two jagged pale grey transverse lines, the first at about one-third 

 and the second at about two-thirds ; there is also a faint line near the termen. The hind-wings 

 have a very obscure dark central line. 



The perfect insect appears in February. It occurs quite commonly on the track 

 to the Dun Mountain, near Nelson, frequenting openings in the birch forest, where it 

 may be captured at rest on bare ground in the hot sunshine, at elevations of from 

 1,500 to 2,000 feet. 



DICHEOMODES GYPSOTIS, Meyr. 

 (Cacopsodos niger, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. lust. xvi. 94 (nee Butl). Dichromodes gypsotis, Meyr., Trans. 



N. Z. Inst. xx. 60. 



This insect was discovered by Mr. Meyrick at Lake Wakatipu in the South 

 Island. 



The expansion of the wings of the female is 13 mm. (\ inch). " Fore-wings rather narrow, 

 costa sinuate, termen sinuate ; white, slightly mixed with grey ; dorsum narrowly grey ; a slender 

 black fascia almost at base ; a slender black fascia at one-third, dentate inwards above middle, 

 dilated on costa ; a slender black fascia beyond middle, shaiply angulated in middle, dilated on 

 costa, connected below middle with preceding fascia by a suffused bar; close beyond this a 

 rather broad parallel grey fascia ; an indistinct grey subterminal line. Hind-wings moderate ; 

 termen rounded dark grey." — (Meyrick.) 



Taken in December, at an elevation of about 1,500 feet above the sea-level. 



DICHEOMODES PETEINA, Meyr. 

 {Dichromodes petrina, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiv. 21G.) 

 (Plate VIII., fig. 39.) 

 This dull-looking little insect has occurred at Paikakariki and Wellington in the 

 North Island, and at Kekerangu in the South Island. 



The expansion of the wings is | inch. The fore-icings are dull greenish-grey ; there is a 



