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LIFE-HISTORY OF NYCTEMERA ANNULATA. 
By G. Vernon Hupson. 
Lire-uistories of New Zealand insects will probably interest 
some of your readers. Several have come under my notice during 
the past year, but the most complete I have as yet observed is 
that of Nyctemera annulata and its parasite, an account of which 
I here give. 
This insect continues to pass through its stages without 
interruption during the whole year. Its development, however, 
progresses much more rapidly in the warm than in the cold 
season ; it consequently is to be found in all states at any time, 
but the perfect insect is very scarce in the depth of winter. The 
eggs are semiglobose in shape, and of a whitish yellow colour ; 
they are deposited on the leaves of various species of plants, the 
most usual being a light green kind of ivy with yellow flowers. 
They are apparently quite smooth and destitute of sculpture. 
When the young larva first emerges it is about 1 line in length, 
and as thick as a piece of ordinary thread. Unfortunately I have 
not observed the exact number of moults this larva undergoes, 
but should judge it to be about six. The following is a descrip- 
tion of the caterpillar when full grown :—Length, about 15 lines; 
head black and shining, of a moderate size; body elongate, 
slightly tapering at each end; general colour black, with a reddish 
interrupted line down the back and one on each side; the articu- 
lating membrane of the segments slate-coloured, and also the 
ventral surface. In younger larve there are several slate-coloured 
lines extending the whole length of the insect, and thus dividing 
the black into squares. Round all the segments in the middle, at 
their greatest circumference, are a variable number of brilliant 
blue warts, out of which dense tufts of long black hair take their 
rise; there are no warts on the extreme ventral surface. Prolegs 
on the 7th to 10th and 13th segments; legs short, black and 
shining. This description applies very well as a rule, but the 
larva is subject to many slight variations. It remains in this 
state for nearly three months, or more, according to the season, 
and is very common, numbers being found on the ditferent plants 
which constitute its food. 
The only parasite which I have as yet observed attached to 
