32 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



AGEOTIS CEEOPAOHOIDES, Gn. 



(Agrotis ceropachoides, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 39 ; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 34.) 



(Plate VI., fig. 1.) 



This species has occurred at Kakaia. 



The expansion of the wings is 1J inches. The fore-wings are bluish-grey, dotted and streaked with 

 darker grey ; there are no distinct markings, except an obscure transverse shading near the termen, and 

 a series of dull terminal spots ; the costa is slightly concave. The hind-wings are grey, paler towards 

 the base, with a dark line on the termen ; the cilia of all the wings are grey. 

 The perfect insect appears in July, August and September. 

 Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. 



Genus 11. HELIOTHIS, Ochs. 



" Head rough-scaled ; eyes naked. Antennae in $ ciliated. Thorax without crest. Abdomen not 

 crested. Tibiae spinose, anterior tibiae with horny apical hook. 



"A rather small genus, but very generally distributed, though commoner in sub- 

 tropical regions ; it is a development of Caradrina ; some of the species have a very wide 

 natural range. The larvae feed especially on the blossoms of their food-plants. "- 

 (Meyrick.) 



This genus is represented in New Zealand by the world-wide Heliotliis armigera. 



HELIOTHIS AEMIGEEA, Hb. 



(Heliothis armigera, Hb. H. conferta, Walk., Noct. 690. H. armigera, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 34.) 



(Plate V., fig. 40 $ , 41 ? .) 



This species has occurred plentifully at Waimarama (Hawkes Bay) and Wellington, 

 in the North Island ; and at Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Eakaia, and Ashburton in 

 the South Island. In Wellington it is certainly not so common as formerly, and Mr. 

 Meyrick observes that its abundance is declining in some other localities also. 



The expansion of the wings is from 1J to If inches. The fore-wings are pale yellowish -brown, 

 sometimes tinged with red. There is an irregular band of dull grey or brown near the termen ; the 

 reniform is small and black; the orbicular minute, also black; the claviform is obsolete; there are 

 several very indistinct traces of transverse lines towards the base of the wing. The hind-wings are 

 dull yellow, with a very broad, blackish, terminal band. The head and thorax are yellowish-brown, 

 and the abdomen is dull yellow. 



This insect varies a good deal in the ground colouring of the fore-wings, which 

 ranges from dull yellow to brick-red, or even to dark yellowish-brown. The hind-wings 

 are also much darker in some specimens than in others. 



The larva feeds on the seeds and flowers of various plants. It is extremely variable 

 in its colouring. 



Some specimens are dull green, with a few obscure red spots on the sides of the anterior 

 segments. Others are brownish-black, with many fine yellow stripes and dots, and the red spots 

 confined to the three anterior segments. Others, again, have numerous olive-green, white, and pale 

 green lines, with a reddish blotch on the side of nearly every segment. 



This caterpillar is often rather destructive in gardens. Amongst other things, it 

 devours tomatoes and peas, the flowers and young fruit of pumpkins and vegetable 

 marrows, the flowers and leaves of geraniums, veronicas, &c. It is full grown in the 

 autumn. 



The pupa is concealed in the earth, the insect remaining in this condition until 

 the following summer. 



