14 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



"Young larvae closely resemble their food-plant in colour, and occasionally this is 

 persistent throughout life ; in fact the larva is very variable. Feeds on various 

 grasses." 



The perfect insect first appears about January, and continues in increasing numbers 

 until the middle or end of April. It is often met with at sugar. 



This species is of almost universal distribution, having occurred in Australia, Java, 

 India, Europe, and North and South America. In England it is regarded as a great 

 rarity. 



Genus 6. ICHNEUTICA, Meyr. 

 "Antennae in male strongly bipectinated throughout. Thorax and abdomen smooth." (Meyrick.) 



This genus is very closely allied to Leucania. It appears to be exclusively limited 

 to New Zealand, where it is represented by two conspicuous species. Probably when 

 the extensive mountainous regions of the country have been more fully explored by 

 entomologists other species will be discovered. 



ICHNEUTICA DIONE, n. sp. 

 (Plate IV., fig. 27 <? .) 



A single specimen of this interesting species was captured by Mr. C. W. Palmer, 

 on Mount Arthur at an elevation of about 4,400 feet. 



The expansion of the wings is 1^ inches. The fore-wings are dull blackish-brown, darker near 

 the middle ; there is a, rather oblique, white, longitudinal stripe below the middle from about one-eighth 

 to one-third; above this there is a very conspicuous, large, elongate white mark; this mark has a 

 semicircular indentation above, probably representing the orbicular ; another indentation towards the 

 tertnen, probably representing the reniform, and below this it emits two short teeth-like projections ; 

 beyond these markings the ground colour becomes paler, and is traversed by an obscure, jagged, 

 transverse line ; the cilia are grey. The hind-wings are pale grey ; the cilia are also grey. The 

 body is dark brownish-black. The pectinations of the antennae of this insect are slightly shorter 

 than those in Ichneutica ceraunias. 



The type specimen is slightly damaged ; but the species is so evidently distinct that 

 I feel no hesitation in describing it. 



ICHNEUTICA CEEAUNIAS, Meyr. 



(Ichneutica ceraunias, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 13.) 



(Plate IV., fig. 25 $ , 26 ? ). 



This handsome species has hitherto only occurred on the Tableland of Mount 

 Arthur, where, however, it seems to be common. 



The expansion of the wings of the male is If inches, of the female 2 inches. The fore-wings of 

 the male are rich orange-brown, paler towards the base. There are two very broad, longitudinal, 

 yellowish stripes, one on the costa and the other on the dorsum. The costal stripe divides into two 

 branches before its termination, one of which is produced downwards ; there is also a conspicuous 

 white mark a little beyond the middle of the wing emitting two tooth-like projections towards the termen, 

 and two narrow, dark brown streaks near the base of the wing. The hind-wings are dark brownish- 

 grey. The head, thorax, and abdomen are yellowish-brown, and the antennae are very strongly 

 bipectinated. The female is much narrower in the wings, the ground colouring is dull brown, and the 

 markings are all dull yellow. 



This species varies slightly in the intensity of the markings. 



The moth appears early in January. It is much attracted by light. In 1891 I 

 took over twenty specimens by means of a single candle exhibited, during three evenings, 



* Report of American Department of Agriculture, 1881, p. 93. 



