86 NE W ZEALAND ENTOMOLOG Y. 



insect very inconspicuous, especially amongst foliage. The 

 specimens I have reared all closely resemble Fig. 3, so 

 that this insect does not appear at all prone to vary. 



Family GEOMETRIM:. 



Ploseria alectoraria (Plate XL, fig. 4; Plate XIIL, fig. f 



larva). 



One of our most variable moths, occurring occasionally 

 amongst foliage during the summer, but most abundant on 

 the .white rata blossoms in February and March. 



The larva feeds on Pittosporum eugenioides, where it 

 may be sometimes found in October and November. It 

 has a most wonderful resemblance to the buds of the 

 plant, and can only be dislodged by vigorous beating. It 

 is easily reared in captivity in fact the female moths may 

 often be induced to lay their eggs and the insect observed 

 through all its stages. 



The eggs are very flat, oval, and light green in colour, be- 

 coming brown at one end about five days before hatching. 



The young larva is pale green with a dull yellowish head.. 

 It has no markings until after the first moult when a reddish 

 dorsal line appears. As age advances the larva becomes- 

 darker in colour and is ornamented with a series of diagonal 

 yellow stripes. The spiracles and antennae are pink and 

 very conspicuous. The legs and prolegs are very small, and 

 the latter are bright red in colour ; a fleshy process which 

 projects from the last segment of the larva is similarly 

 coloured. The whole insect is also speckled with yellow. 

 When full-grown this caterpillar is very robust and measures 

 about ten lines in length. The pupa is enclosed in a light 

 cocoon formed of three or four leaves fastened together 

 with silk. It is greenish brown in colour. 



The perfect insect first appears in December. It may 

 be observed during the whole of the autumn and occasion- 

 ally in the winter. As the larvae grow very slowly I am 



