CADDIS-FLIES. 89- 



The transformations of this species appear to closely 

 resemble those of H. umbripennis. 



The perfect insect appears about midsummer, and is 

 often attracted by light, but single individuals are occasion- 

 ally seen at all times in the year. 



PSILOCHOREMA CONFUSUM. 



Psilochorema confusum, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc.,. 

 vol. 10, p. 210, pi. 2, fig. 10 (1870). 



The expansion of the wings is about J inch. 



"Brown; antennas yellow, indistinctly ringed with brown; basal joint 

 with golden hairs. Anterior wings pale brown, with pale yellow woolly 

 clothing mixed with black ; an indistinct whitish wavy band before the 

 apex and some pale markings on the disk. Neuration very irregular in 

 the male. Posterior wings grey, sub-hyaline, iridescent, fringes grey. Legs 

 pale yellow ; anterior and intermediate tibiae and tarsi rather brownish 

 externally. Abdomen brown, the apical margin of each ventral segment 

 broadly dingy yellowish. Inferior appendages in the male elongated and 

 slender, bent in the middle almost at right angles. In the female the penul- 

 timate ventral segment bears a tuft of hairs in the middle. Length of the 

 body, 4 mm.; expanse of the wings, 15 mm." (Hutton). 



Localities. — Auckland and Wellington. 



In its metamorphosis this species closely resembles H. 

 umbripennis ; the larva is, however, much smaller, with 

 the head proportionately narrow. The inner cocoon is 

 more transparent and much smaller; the outer cocoon 

 is also smaller. I have observed that the larva remains 

 in its cocoon for many days before manifesting any 

 change. 



The perfect insect appears from November till March, 

 and is much attracted by light. It is commonest about 

 midsummer. 



Sub-family 5.— HYDROPTILIDES. 



" Very minute, strongly pubescent and hairy, the wings with numerous 

 erect hairs. Palpi very hairy, simple in structure, alike in both sexes. 

 Antennae short and stout. The larvae are without any external respiratory 

 filaments, and make cases usually movable (fixed in a Brazilian species), 

 formed of silk, to the exterior of which are sometimes attached minute 

 grains of sand. The cases have a slit at each end, and the larvae present 

 their heads at either indiscriminately" (Hutton). 



The members of this family comprise the most minute 

 of the caddis-flies, and the perfect insects bear an extreme 

 resemblance to small moths of the group Tineina. 



