90 NEW ZEALAND NEUEOPTEBA. 



Genus OXYETHIKA, Eaton (1873). 



" Antennas stout, the joints somewhat cup-shaped, slightly longer than 

 broad, the basal joint much longer than the others. Maxillary palpi 

 slender, the third to fifth joints long. Ocelli present. Spurs 0.3.4. 

 Anterior wings extremely long and slender, the apices narrowly acumi- 

 nate, clothing very dense, costal fringes long ; neuration simple, the sector 

 ends in a long simple fork, as also does the upper branch of the .superior 

 cubitus ; few, if any, transverse nervules. Posterior wings exceedingly long 

 and narrow, the apex longly acuminate as in the anterior, very acute; 

 the costal margin strongly elbowed near the base ; sector simple, superior 

 cubitus apparently with a small fork at the apex, a distinct median trans- 

 verse nervule. 



" Distribution. — Europe " (Hutton). 



OXYETHIKA ALBICEPS. 



Hydroptila albiceps, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc. 

 London, 1862, p. 4. Oxyethira albiceps, Eaton, Trans. 

 Ent. Soc. London, 1873, p. 145 (?) ; Hudson, Trans. N. Z. 

 Inst., vol. 18, p. 213. 



(Plate XL, fig. 1, 2 larva, 3 pupa, all much magnified.) 



This minute insect must be very common in the 

 neighbourhood of Wellington, but, owing to its small 

 size and inconspicuous appearance, is, no doubt, con- 

 stantly overlooked. 



The expansion of the wings is about ^ inch. 



" Male. — Antenna? grey, faintly annulated with darker ; head clothed 

 with dense greyish-white pubescence. Thorax fuscous. Abdomen brown 

 above, silvery beneath. Legs pale-grey. Anterior wings dark greyish- 

 fuscous, irrorated with pale grey, the extreme apex conspicuously whitish. 

 Posterior wings pale grey, the cilia concolorous. Length of the body, 

 2 mm. ; expanse of wings, 5 mm." (Hutton). 



The larva of this species, although, of course, very 

 small in size, is extremely interesting. On examination 

 with the microscope the case will first arrest attention, 

 being of unique structure. Its shape is best described 

 as closely resembling that of a minute flask, very much 

 flattened at the lower end, with sloping shoulders and 

 almost transparent ; its surface is slightly corrugated, 

 and the neck of the flask composed of much denser 

 material than the rest. It is open at both ends, the 

 posterior end being perforated by a long, shallow slit, 

 which extends for nearly the whole width of the case, 

 thus admitting a free circulation of water around the 

 enclosed insect. The larva is also able to turn round 

 and project its head and anterior segments through the 

 lower aperture of the case, when it occupies the reverse 



