( 411 ) 



IX. Life Histories in the Hcpicdid Groujp of Lepidoptera, 

 with Deseription of one Nciu Species, and N-Aes on 

 Imaginal Structure. By Ambrose Quail, F.E.S. 



[Read June 0th, 1900.] 



Plates V and VI. • 



% 

 In the following paper I have given the result of my 

 special work for the past two or three years, on the 

 Hepialid group of Lepidoptera. It comprises a complete 

 life history of Purina cervinata, Walk., a contribution to 

 the life histories of P. umhraculata, Gn., and Charagia 

 vircsecns, Dbld., a description of one new species, and 

 notes on imaginal structure in several species. 



1. Life history of Poriiut cervinata, Walk., of New 

 Zealand — 



Gvx: deposited Oct. 21, 1899, hatched Nov. 19, 1890 = 29 Jays. 

 „ Oct. 25, 1899, „ Nov. 24, 1899 = 30 „ 



„ Dec. 10, 1899, „ Jan. 1, 1900 = 22 „ 

 „ Jan. 28, 1900, „ Feb. 18, 1900 = 21 „ 



Ova3 deposited on succeeding nights by the same females, 

 larvae hatch out on succeeding days, sometimes extending 

 to one week ; the above dates are the first day deposited 

 and the first day of hatching. Sequence in colour change 

 is cream when laid, then drab (grey), and finally black in 

 less than ten hours. They are smooth and polished and 

 opaque from the time they arc laid to the time of 

 emergence. It is seldom the ovas form a complete circular 

 outline. 



Larva nciuly hatched. (PL V, figs. 11, 12, 13, l-l.) 



Head is pale brown, rest of larva creamy white. Head 

 exceptionally large, fully the length of any two other 

 segments, whole larva fairly robust. Each lobe has about 

 twelve hairs, nine of which form a margin round the lobe. 

 Ocelli large, mahogany coloured. Antennae terminated by 

 three slender processes. Suture of lobes and clypcus is 

 very distinct; on each side of clypeus are three hairs, 

 equidistant and almost parallel with sutures; in front of 



TRANS. ENT. SOU. LOND. 1900. — PART III. (OCTOBER) 



