THE LEPIDOPTERA. 97 



Family TlNElD/E. 

 CEcophora scJtolcea (Plate XIII., fig. 6, 6a larva). 



This dull-coloured insect is extremely abundant during 

 the early summer. 



The larva feeds on the roots of various plants, forming 

 numerous white silken galleries in the earth where it resides. 

 In colour it is dark chocolate-brown with a yellowish head 

 and white markings. It is very large, considering the size of 

 the future moth, full-grown specimens often measuring as 

 much as \o\ lines in length. About the end of September 

 these caterpillars are transformed into pupae, and the moths 

 emerge in a month or six weeks' time. 



The perfect insect may be often disturbed amongst brush- 

 wood. It is very sluggish on the wing and usually drops 

 to the ground, where it is very inconspicuous. It also has 

 a habit of running into any crevice immediately on the 

 approach of an enemy. This peculiarity is shared by the 

 other members of the genus CEcophora, of which there are 

 large numbers in New Zealand. 



Family Tineid,*:. 

 Semiocosma platyptera (Plate XII., fig. 8, 8a larva, 8b 



pupa). 

 This is one of the largest of the Tineidcs found in New 

 Zealand, measuring fully fifteen lines across the expanded 

 wings. Its larva (Fig. 8a) is abundant under the bark of dead 

 henau trees {Eleocarpus dentatus), feeding on the soft inner 

 surface, but leaving the hard wood untouched. In colour 

 it is pale yellow, the head and prothorax are dark brown 

 and corneous, and the remaining segments are provided 

 with two horny warts, from which numerous hairs arise ; 

 its legs are all very small, and the caterpillar is considerably 

 attenuated posteriorly ; it is very active, wriggling about 

 with great violence when disturbed. 



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