THE LEP1D0PTERA. 77 



Figs, i and ia. The male (i) is extremely active, dashing 

 about the breeding cage with great rapidity when first 

 emerged, and rapidly beating his wings to tatters ; but 

 the female (ia) closely resembles a large maggot, all the 

 appendages being completely rudimentary, except the two- 

 jointed ovipositor at the end of her body ; she is incapable 

 of any motion, except a slight twirling of the abdomen, 

 which takes place while the eggs are being laid. 1 



Family NoCTUID^E. 

 Leucania nullifera (Plate XIII., fig. 3, 3a larva). 



This large, though dull-looking insect, is occasion- 

 ally taken at light during the summer and autumn 

 months. 



The larva feeds on the spear-grass (Aciphylla squarrosa), 

 an abundant plant on the coast hills near Wellington. It 

 devours the soft central-growing point, and its presence in a 

 tussock can be at once seen by a quantity of pale-brown 

 " frass," visible at the bases of the leaves. The formidable 

 spear-like points with which this plant is armed must afford 

 the caterpillar considerable protection from enemies. As 

 a rule a single specimen only is found in each clump of 

 the grass, so that the female probably deposits her eggs 

 singly. This larva is full-grown about August, and may 

 be found feeding in the plants during the autumn and 

 winter. 



The pupa state is spent, in an earthen chamber, amongst 

 the roots of the spear-grass, and the moth emerges during 

 the summer. 



This species occurs at considerable elevations. I have 

 seen it as high as 4,000 feet in the Nelson province, where 

 its food-plant may also be found. 



1 For accounts of parasites and hyperparasites of this insect see 

 pages 60 and yj, also The Entomologist, vol. xviii. p. 153. 



