THE LEPIDOPTERA. 89 



Family GEOMETRID^E. 

 Selidosema panagrata (Plate XL, fig. 7 J, /a $, 7b larva). 



One of our commonest moths, occurring in great numbers 

 in the forest throughout the whole summer. 



The larvae (Fig.' /b) are extremely variable, the most usual 

 colouring being that of the individual figured, but when 

 very young they are all of a uniform green with a con- 

 spicuous white dorsal line ; as age advances the cater- 

 pillars become dark olive brown of varying degrees of 

 intensity in different specimens, some retaining a consider- 

 able amount of their original green colouring, especially 

 those feeding on the kawakawa (Piper excelsinn), whose 

 hue consequently harmonizes with that of the plant. 

 These larvae often select a forked twig to rest in, where 

 they lie curled round with the head and tail close together. 

 They are very voracious, and are the primary cause of the 

 riddled appearance which the leaves of the kawakawa 

 almost invariably present. Other food-plants are the 

 ""currant" (A. racemosa); and the Myrtus bullata ; those 

 taken from the latter have a strong pinkish tint, and 

 are consequently very inconspicuous amongst the young 

 shoots where they generally feed. The burrows of 

 Hepialus virescens are frequently utilized by the larvae 

 which feed on the " currant," as convenient retreats 

 during the winter, a large number being often found in 

 a single hole. When full-grown they descend to the 

 ground and construct, on the under-side of fallen leaves, 

 loose cocoons of silk and earth from which the perfect 

 insects emerge in about a month's time. The autumnal 

 larvae, however, either hibernate or remain in the pupa 

 state throughout the winter. This moth is even more 

 variable than the last species (S. dejectaria), which it 

 occasionally somewhat resembles. The sexes are very 

 different, the colouring of the male consisting of various 



