II. THE NOTODONTINA. 85 







SELIDOSEMA ARISTABCHA, Meyr. 



(Sdidoscma ariatarcha, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiv. 216.) 



(Plate IX., fig. 17 <?, 18 ? ; Plate III., fig. 17, larva.) 



Of this fine species only about a dozen specimens have hitherto been captured, 

 all of which have occurred in the immediate vicinity of Wellington. It . is conse- 

 quently at present a rarity, but future collectors will probably find the insect in 

 many other parts of the country. 



The expansion of the wings varies from 1^ to 1 inches. The fore-wings are light 

 ochreous-brown ; there is a small white-edged brown spot near the base ; two oblique curved 

 brown transverse lines enclosing between them a white space towards the dorsum ; a short 

 stripe on the costa, near the middle, edged with white towards the base of the wing ; a doubly 

 curved transverse line beyond the middle, finely edged with white towards the base of the wing ; 

 there is also a short white-edged brown stripe extending from the apex of the wing to the 

 last-named transverse line, the two lines enclosing between them a small pale triangular area ; 

 there are five short longitudinal brown lines running from the termen to the outermost of the 

 transverse lines, two of them being tipped with white towards the base of the wing. The hind- 

 wings are dull ochreous-brown, with two very faint brown transverse lines towards the dorsum, 

 and several whitish spots and one brown spot near the tornus. The female is a little darker in 

 colour than the male. 



This insect varies slightly in size. 



The larva feeds on Cyathea dealbata (tree-fern) in September. Its colour is dull 

 reddish-brown with an irregular brownish-black blotch on the side of each segment, 

 and a dark brown dorsal line. It is very sluggish in its habits. 



The pupa is concealed amongst moss, &c., on the surface of the ground, the 

 insect remaining in this state for about six weeks. 



The moth appears from September till March, and frequents dense forests. It 

 has been dislodged from its food-plant in the daytime, and has also been taken on 

 the flowers of the white rata in the evening. 



SELIDOSEMA MELINATA, Feld. 



(Numcria melinata, Feld. cxxix. 9. Psewlocoremia indistincta, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 394, 



pi. xliii. 8. Pscudocoremia melinata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 99.) 



(Plate IX., fig. 15 $, 16 ? .) 



This species is very common, and generally distributed throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings of the male is 1 inches, of the female \\ inches. The fore-wings 

 are dull greenish-grey, with black markings ; there is a transverse line near the base ; another near the 

 middle, followed by two broken irregular lines, then a broader, paler area sometimes white, followed 

 by a series of jagged pale markings shaded with black. The hind-wings are ochreous mottled with 

 pale brown near the dorsum ; there is a series of black dots on the termen of both fore- and hind- 

 wings. 



This species is extremely variable, but may always be recognised by its greenish 

 tinge, and the absence of indentations on the termen of both fore- and hind-wings. 



The larva, according to Mr. Purdie, is about f inch long ; dull green with 

 darker longitudinal striations. It may be beaten from New Zealand broom (Car- 

 michfelia) in February. There must be some other commoner food-plant, as the 

 moth is found in many localities where the New Zealand broom does not occur. 



The perfect insect appears from November till March, and is generally very abundant 

 in all wooded districts. It is also common in birch forests on the mountain sides, 

 where it may be taken at altitudes of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level. 



