ft' 



AND THEIR TRANSFOEMATIONS. 27 



OCNERTA HELIASPIS, MEYBicK._(Plate XIX., S and Underside). 



Ocneria heliagpis, Mcyrick, Trans. Roy. Soc. Soutli Australia, XIV., p. 192 (1891). 

 Chelepteryx expolitus, Scott, MS. 



We have found this species upon different occasions at Manly Beacli, close to the entrance to Port Jackson; and also at 

 other spots situated within a radius of ten miles from Newcastle, on the Hunter River. In every instance the caterpillars were 

 solitary, living in exposc^d positions upon the low bushes of young Eucalypti. Our Hunter River specimens were found in 

 January, February, and April ; and those from Manly Beach in February. 



The female caterpillar measures nearly 3 inches, the male 2j inches, and there is very little difference in coloiu-ing between 

 the sexes. The body is cylindrical, and of almost uniform thickness; the ground colour pale pinkish-drab, with a fringe of short, 

 stiff, yellowish hair between each segment, and another down the back. Each segment bears a whorl of six cushion-shaped tubercles 

 which emit clusters of stiff hair, about a quarter of an inch long, and cither yellowish, rusty-red, or creamy-white in colour ; and 

 there are two additional reddish hairs, nearly one inch long, proceeding from the centre of each cluster. Placed near the dorsal 

 line are two small tubercles — one on each side of each segment — also emitting clusters of hair, with the exception of the pair on 

 the fourth segment which bear upright pencils of stiff rusty-red hairs about half an inch long. There are a few additional tubercles 

 on the neck, and on the caudal segment, causing the anterior and posterior extremities to be nearly hidden by the long stiff fringes 

 of hair. The head is dark rusty-red, with a few piukisli-drab markings ; the thoracic feet dark rusty-red, the abdominal and anal 

 claspers pinkish-drab, with markings of dark rusty-red. One of our specimens, a full-grown female larva, was more ochreous in 

 colour, and the short stiff fringe of hair down the back was creamy-white, and gave the appearance of a dorsal band. 



Some of the larvae formed their cocoons early in February, the others about the middle of March, or later on. Some fresh 

 leaves of the Eucalyptus were drawn together and fastened securely with coarse yellowish silk, which for additional security was 

 woven some distance up the foot stalks and stem of the twig ; inside the leaves an elongated oval cocoon was then formed, of a 

 dirty white colour and strong texture, lined inside with silk. Some of our moths took wing in March and April, but a few 

 specimens remained in the cocoons for a period of ten months. 



The chrysalis (fig. 1, male) measures about 1 inch ; the female about IJ inches. It is throughout a light pinkish-drab, 

 with the wing cases, antenuge, and segments outlined with purplish-brown. 



In expanse the female moth measures 3i inches ; the male 21 inches. 



Ocneria heliaspis, Meyr., ? 



The Antenna (fi- 2), male, rather strongly l)ipectinate, the pectinations ciliate, and each terminating in a seta. Female 



very slightly bipectinate, the pectinations exceedingly small near the base of the antennae. 



TbP Tnhinl nalm (fi" 3) male small; projecting forwards and slightly downwards. In male, the basal and second joints 

 The Labial palp, (fi ^); -^^^^-^^^^ ^^ ^J^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^.^^^1 ^^^,1,^ ,,, ,,,l,er obtuse at the apex (fig. 4, denuded of ban-). 



The wliole covered above with longish hairs and scales. In female, the basal and termmal jomts arc 

 nearly equal ; the second joint is almost twice as long as either basal or termnud ; the whole very 

 sparingly covered with hairs and scales. 



The Maxilliv obsolete. 



. • -v rr„r r, „iale^ snurless; intermediate and posterior pairs (lig. 6, male) each with two small 



"- ^'" ■■ :;;rr: Z^^ i ^ ^' «.. a^a .„. ..,o,..,ate., .>.. t,. .... .,..0. „„ «,. ^i. ot a...on„. 



pah- A few rows of small seta, oa tte tarsi, and some loug.sli ha.rs beneath the femora. 

 Ihewinssaresemi-deltoUl in repose, the anterior angle of the lower wmg projeetiug sl.ghtl, beyond the costal margin 

 of the upper wing. Moth nocturnal. 



