308 INSECTS 



effectually by spinning together quantities of the material it happens to 

 be feeding upon. 



It has been found to destroy tons of rice in a warehouse, and one 

 of the Local Government Boards in Liverpool lost a great number 

 of sweeping brooms, made of heather or ling, which were kept 

 amongst their stores. Mr W. W. Smith (April, 1919) states that it is 

 now very common, especially among grass and other seeds. 



Ocystola acroxantha, Meyr. 



Mr Hudson says: "First observed in 1886, and no doubt intro- 

 duced from Australia along with Eucalyptus, to which it is attached.'* 



Barea confusella, Walk. 



Mr Hudson says: "First observed in 1908, when it was taken 

 both at Nelson and Wellington. Also introduced from Australia 

 where it is common, attached to Eucalyptus." 



Mr Philpott says : " Examples were sent to me from New Plymouth 

 in 1909. It is now common near Dunedin, but does not occur in 

 Southland. I have also seen specimens from the Humboldt Range." 



Symmoca quadripuncta, Haw. 



First observed in Nelson in 1908, where, according to Mr Hudson, 

 it was taken by Mr Sunley. It is a British species, which is not known 

 from Australia. 



Choreutis bjerkandrella, Thunb. 



This cosmopolitan moth is a well-established natural immigrant, 

 according to Mr Hudson. It has been collected at many points in 

 both islands: Kaeo, Whangarei, Hamilton, Taranaki, Palmerston, 

 Napier and Nelson. Mr W. W. Smith says it is very common in 

 Taranaki. Mr Howes reports it as very common among tussocks 

 above the bush line on Flagstaff and other hills near Dunedin. Mr A. 

 Philpott, writing in July, 1916, says: "If this is an introduced species 

 it has thriven wonderfully. It is found in all open situations up to 

 about 3000 feet." 



The larvae feed on the thistles (Carduus, Cnicus, etc.), and other 

 composites. 



Plutella maculipennis, Curt. (P. cruciferarum, Zeller). 

 Diamond-back Moth ; Shot-hole Moth ; Cabbage Moth 



This species is abundant all over New Zealand, especially (ac- 

 cording to Dr Hilgendorf) in all regions where the rainfall is not 

 much over 30 inches per annum. He estimates the damage done 





