AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. n 



P I E L U S . * 



Gossus, Donovan, Boisduvul. 



Epiolm, Herr ScliiBff. 



Pidus, Stephens, MSS., Brit. Mus. Cat., p. 157G, Lcp. Hot. 



Bhizopsyche,' mil.i, on Plate 4, Anst. Lep., and in original MSS. 



Ate clongatiE, sublanccolatoe, versus apioem acuminatum subrotundatoe, costa subrecta, margincquc extcriore multis perobli- 

 quo ; anticoe signaturis multis labyrintheis, in maribus fasoiis argenteis ornatis. Caput parvum. Palpi labiales distincti, porrccti, 

 articulo pvimo secimdoque subaequalibus, robustis, tcrminali minuto. Maxilte obsoletee. Antenna; longiusoukc, peetinata', 

 nonnunquam tripcctinatae. Pedes cxoalcarati, antici robusti, postiei parvi. Larva lactiflorea, longa, cylindriea, earnosa, 

 segmentis bene indieatis, primo eapiteque squamosis ; involucrum subterraneum liabitans et radices dopascans. Pupa fusca, 

 clongata, capite, thorace, abdomi,ieque posticc scabris cornels, segmentis abdominalibus annulatis, poreis duris nlgris. 



Wings elongate, somewliat lanceolate, costa straightish, slightly rounded towards tlio tip, which is pointed ; exterior 

 margin very oblique, uniting with the interior by a gentle curve ; superior wings with numerous lines disposed labyrinthioaUy ; 

 reUevcd in the males by broad bands of silver. Head small. Labial palpi distinct, porrocted forwards, 1st and 2nd joints about 

 equal and robust ; terminal minute. Maxilla; obsolete. Antenna; moderately long, in some pectinated, in others tripectinated. 

 Legs spurless, 1st and 2nd pairs robust, posterior small. Larva cream-coloured, long, cylindrical, fleshy, muscular, with the 

 segmental divisions well defined ; head and 1st segment squamose. Lives underground at some depth, within a tubular dwelling, 

 and feeds upon the roots of plants. Chrysalis brown, elongated ; head, thorax, and posterior portion of the body rough and 

 corneous ; abdominal segments, with hard annular black ridges. 



Prom Ilcpialus, this genus may be readily known by the distinct palpi, pectinated antenna;, smooth head and thorax, 

 spurless legs, and the absence of the long tuft of hair on the tibitc of the posterior legs of the male. 



Erom Zeuzera, by the antenna; being pectinated almost to the tips, and the larva being subterranean. 



Prom Cossus, by the wide diflferenco of oatlini; of the wings and abdomen, spurless legs, the larva being destitute of 

 dorsal scales, and living underground. 



SPECIES L— PIELUS SWAINSONI.— (Plvie IV.) 

 Ehhopsijche Su-ainsmii, mihi, on PI. 4, Aust. Lop., and in original MSS. 



We have much pleasure in presenting our readers with the metamorphoses of this conspicuous insect, believing tliat they 

 have not hitherto been fully described. This insect, moreover, possesses an additional interest from the larva being liable to 

 the attacks of that peculiar fimgns, the " Sphroria " of Hooker. 



Over a great extent of this country, in the far interior particularly, and also in the adjacent Colonies, at certain seasons, 

 great numbers of the exuviio of large lepidopterous chrysalids are seen with the anterior portion protruding above the surface of 

 the ground. Having obtained a few of these for examination, we arrived at the conviction that they closely approached the 

 genus Hepialus, and our anxiety was incited to obtain the larva;, in order to derive correct information with respect to the habits 

 of an insect of such magnitude. Most fortunately, shortly afterwards, a few remains of a similar kind were discovered by us on 

 Ash Island, and by digging carefully around the spot, we happily succeeded, at a depth averaging from 2 to 3 feet, in procuring 

 fine living specimens of the larva; and chrysalides, and also some of the former whose bodies were completely occupied by a 

 species of Spha;ria ; thus affording us information of the two preparatory stages of the insect, and putting us, at the same time, 

 unexpectedly, into the possession of one species of our Australian Lepidoptera on which that singular fungus is produced. Ey 

 these operations, cautiously conducted, we ascertained that the caterpillars lived upon the outer portions of the roots of trees, 

 either recent, or partially decayed, and from which to the surface of the ground, they had constructed through the soil a gallery, 

 internally coated with a slight brownish-coloured silken tissu.c, and of just sufficient width to permit the passage of their bodies ; 

 this gallery was continued somewhat horizontally underground, and led from one root to another, and in its progress sometimes 

 passed through clay saturated with water from recent rains. The spot upon which we pursued our investigations was originally 

 covered by a thick brush, but had been partially cleared for a few years, leaving the space open, grassy, and but thinly timbered, 

 so that the dead and living roots crossed each other in some abimdance where the present caterpillars were discovered. 



'See the explanatory remarks to tlie genns Charagia, p. o. Part I. 



