34 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTEBA. 



Sub-family l.HYPENIDES. 

 Vein 5 of hind-wings parallel to 4. 



Genus 1. HYPENODBS, Gn. 



Head loosely scaled, with small frontal tuft. Antennas in $ ciliated. Palpi very long, 

 porrected, second joint thickened with rough projecting scales, terminal rather short, cylindrical. 

 Thorax with appressed scales. Abdomen with small crest near base. Tibias smooth-scaled. Fore- 

 wings with vein 7 separate, 9 and 10 out of 8. Hind-wings with vein 5 parallel to 4. 



"Although consisting of very few species, this genus is almost universally dis- 

 tributed. Imago with fore-wings unusually elongate. Larva without prolegs on 

 segments 7 and 8." (Meyrick.) 



We have one species in New Zealand. 



HYPBNODES BXSULAEIS, Meyr. 

 (Hypcnodcs exsularis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 46.) 



" Male. 16 mm. (about f inch). Head, antennae, thorax, and abdomen whitish-ochreous, 

 brownish-tinged ; abdominal crest black. Palpi dark fuscous. Legs dark fuscous, posterior pair 

 whitish-ochreous. Fore-wings elongate, posteriorly gradually dilated, costa slightly arched, tcrmen 

 obliquely rounded ; ochreous-brown, closely irrorated with rather dark fuscous ; a black mark beneath 

 costa at base ; a cloudy blackish longitudinal mark in disc beyond middle ; second line obscurely 

 indicated, paler, anteriorly partly blackish-edged, from posterior extremity of discal mark to dorsum 

 beyond middle ; an oblique wedge-shaped white spot from apex, touching second line ; a sub-terminal 

 series of white dots ; a terminal row of black dots ; cilia fuscous, with a basal series of whitish- 

 ochreous dots. Hind-wings pale whitish-grey ; a grey transverse discal spot ; a dark grey interrupted 

 terminal line ; cilia grey-whitish. 



" Taranaki, in March ; one specimen. 



" In the British Museum is an unnamed specimen from China, which appears to be 

 certainly the same species ; it, therefore, probably ranges through many of the South 

 Pacific islands. From its small size and inconspicuous appearance it is doubtless often 

 overlooked. ' ' (Meyrick.) 



Sub-family <2.PLUSIADE8. 



Vein 5 of hind- wings more or less approximated to 4. 



Genus 2. PLUSIA, Ochs. 



" Head rough-scaled. Antennae in $ very shortly ciliated. Palpi rather long, curved, 

 ascending, second joint rough-scaled, terminal moderately long or short, more or less rough-scaled in 

 front, somewhat pointed. Thorax with large central or posterior crest. Abdomen with one or more 

 crests. Tibiae rough-scaled. Hind- wings with vein 5 more or less approximated to 4." (Plate II., 

 figs. 14 and 15.) 



" A considerable genus, occurring throughout the world. Most of the images are 

 handsome insects, often with metallic markings ; some of them fly actively in bright 

 sunshine. Larva usually without prolegs on segments 7 and 8, segment 12 more or 

 less prominent above. Pupa in a rather open cocoon." (Meyrick.) 



This genus is represented in New Zealand by a single and very widely distributed 

 species. 



