290 : Transactions.— Zoology. 
few years inclosures and cultivation have been rapidly extending around 
Christchurch, and forming a nursery for the preservation and increase of the 
insect race. A luxuriant and abundant vegetation has sprung up for its food 
and shelter, and it is comparatively freed from the ravages of fire and the 
attack of its feathered foes. What can we expect under such circumstances 
but to be visited with an insect pest? Unless some remedy were applied, 
or some special intervention of Providence occurred, the evil would inevitably 
increase with each succeeding year, and the farmer would ultimately find 
that his money and labour were providing but a harvest for the caterpillar 
and grub. 
Some idea may be formed of the enormous increase of herbivorous insects 
if we take, for example, Plusia gamma, one of the moths of the Noctuce family 
(a family extensively represented in this neighbourhood) and the common 
Aphis or plant louse. Réaumer has proved that from a single pair of Plusia 
gamma moths, 80,000 might be produced in one season, and the rapidity of 
production of the Aphide is so enormous, that nine generations have been 
produced in three months; and, each generation averaging 100 individuals, 
it has been calculated that 10,000 million millions may be generated in that 
period from a single Aphis. 
So far as I have been able to ascertain, from inquiry and from my own 
personal observations, the insects which appear to have been the most injurious 
to the farmers of this neighbourhood are of the following kinds, namely :— 
Of moths five species, namely—Pielus umbraculatus, Gu., Pielus vario- 
laris, Gu., and Cloantha composita, Gu., (all named and described by 
M. Guenée as “new species” from specimens taken by me in this 
province), and Heliothis armigera and Sesia tipuliformis (a species 
found also in England). 
Of Beetles two species, namely — Odontria striata and Odontria (n.s. 
undescribed). 
Of Aphides, several species. 
Several specimens of the perfect insect of each of the above species of 
moths and beetles I now place before you for inspection, and in order that 
you may identify the species to which I allude. 
Pielus umbraculatus and P. variolaris make their appearance on the wing, 
in great numbers, in the evening twilight, and in the daytime are found at 
rest on posts and rails and palings and such like places, and numbers may be 
seen entangled or wound up in the webs of spiders. These moths are very 
abundant in the months of October and November. The family to which 
they belong has received the common name of “swifts” from the rapidity of 
their flight. The larvæ of these species are short fleshy grubs, having six 
pectoral, eight ventral, and two anal feet; they are subterranean, and feed 
