I. THE CARADBININA. 3 



into a shining black pupa, speckled and striped with yellow. The insect remains in this 

 state about six weeks. 



The moth first appears in September, and continues abundant until about the end of 

 March. It is extremely common, especially during the latter end of summer, when 

 specimens may often be seen flying in all directions. Mr. Meyrick observes * that this 

 species has the curious habit of soaring in the early morning sunshine, soon after sunrise, 

 in calm, fine weather. He states that he has seen them in numbers, flying round the 

 tops of trees, at a height of over 100 feet. I can fully corroborate the accuracy of this 

 interesting observation, and have noticed the insect to be most active between the hours 

 of five and eight on fine mornings in midsummer. The habit is certainly a very unusual 

 one, as most insects are rarely seen at that time of the day. 



This moth is confined to New Zealand, but two closely allied species, belonging to 

 ^the same genus, are found in Australia. 



Genus 2. UTETHEISA, Hb. 



" Head smooth. Ocelli large. Antennae in $ ciliated, with longer setae at joints. Palpi 

 moderate, ascending, with loosely appressed scales. Thorax smooth beneath. Abdomen smooth- 

 scaled. Tibiae smooth-scaled, spurs very short. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 

 connected with 9. Hind-legs with veins 3, 4, 5 rather approximated, 6 or 7 connate or short-stalked, 

 8 from middle of cell." f 



"A small genus inhabiting the warmer regions of the world. Larva with rather 

 scanty hairs, some finely branched." (Meyrick.) 



Represented in New Zealand by a single species of wide distribution. 



UTETHEISA PULCHELLA, L. 



(Deiopeia pulchella, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 217.) 



(Plate IV., fig. 3.) 



This species was first observed in New Zealand in February, 1887, when I captured 

 a single specimen in the Wainui-o-mata valley. Since that time Mr. A. Norris has seen 

 two others near Petone, one of which is now in his collection. All the specimens at 

 present noticed have consequently occurred in a very restricted portion of the Wellington 

 District, though it is probable that the insect is far more generally distributed throughout 

 the country than these records would seem to indicate. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 inches. The fore-wings are white, with jive irregular 

 transverse rows of oblong crimson spots, alternating with six irregular rows of small black dots. The 

 hind-wings are white, irregularly clouded with black on the termen ; there are two small black spots 

 near the middle. The body is white ; the head and thorax are spotted with crimson, and the antennae 

 are black. 



The larva is thus described by Newman : f 



" The ground colour is leaden with a covering of black hairs ; there is a broad white stripe down 

 the back, and on each segment down the side is a double scarlet spot. On the continent of Europe 

 this caterpillar is said to feed on the forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis}." 



In New Zealand the moth appears in February. Mr. Meyrick remarks]: : "It is 

 probably only an occasional immigrant. Although a feeble-looking insect, it possesses 

 extraordinary capabilities of flight, and is sometimes met with far out at sea. It occurs 

 throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands." It is well known to 



* Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 218. f ' British Moths,' 31. J Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 217. 



