i6 



Opogona anrisquauwsa (Butl.). 

 (Plate III, Figs. 1-3.) 



"Antennae very pale fawn-ochreous (almost whitish), the hasal joint 

 somewhat dilated and flattened, whiter than the stem. Palpi pale fawn- 

 ochreous above, straw-white beneath! Head shining, pale fawn-brown ; 

 face shining, steel-white. Thorax shining, varying frcm brown to deep 

 purplish. Forewings irridescent, dark purple, varying to pale fawn- 

 brownish (l)nt chiefly in worn or greasy specimens), with minute trans- 

 verse lines of golden scales, more noticeable towards the ape.x than on 

 the basal half, these coalesce in some specimens forming a costal spot 

 before the apex, and occasionally a dorsal spot near the end of the fold : 

 cilia dull pale brownish ochreous, varying to grey. Exp. al. 12-14 mm. 

 Hindwings shining, l)ronzy greyish, with bright aenecus sheen around 

 the margins, silvery white on the costa about the ])ase: cilia dull pale 

 brownish ochreous. .Abdomen shining, pale fawn-])r<>wnish, varying to 

 dark purplish grey. Legs pale ochreous."' [Walsingham. "h'auna Ha- 

 waiiensis." I. Pt. V, p. 713. 1907.J 



The larvae of this moth are often associated with htid-wornvs, 

 and feeding in a similar manner ; hence, they are also responsible 

 for some destrnction of the e\es of the cane. They occur more 

 abundantly, however, feeding inside of diseased, dead, or rotten 

 cane, especiallv in those shoots which have been choked or 

 smothered and have died off at the to]), and in cane sticks whiclt 

 have been attacked by borers. In the latter, many may often 

 be found in old borer tunnels, feeding on the chewed-up cane 

 left bv the borer, or on the disintegrating substance of the cane 

 itself. They also feed on decaying fruits and other decaying sub- 

 stances, on the dead leaves of bananas and palms, and in rotten 

 wood. I have fotmd them quite numerotts in fruit clusters and 

 (lead stems of the castor oil plant, and in decaying bamlioo stems, 

 also in Pipfiinis, Clcrv.wntia, and other native trees in the moun- 

 tains. I once reared cpiite a number of the moths from dried cow 

 dung. They occur generally throughout the islands and are 

 always found in cane fields, though not particularly injurious on 

 account of their general feeding habits as given above. The 

 species is also known in the Marquesas and the Society Islands. 



The moths may often be seen at rest on the cane leaves. They 

 are of a bronzy-yellowish color with metallic reflections. They 

 are abotit '4 incii in length with the wings folded over the back. 



