AND THEIR TRANSFORMATIONS. 83 



SELIDOSEMA THERM^A, Meyrick.— (Plate XXI., S) 



Selidosema thermcea, Meyrick, Proc. Linn. vSoc, N.S. Wales, 1891, p. COO (1892). 

 Geometra cameli-pilo, Scott MS. 



Several larvte of this species were Ibund at Ash Island in January, feeding on tlie Cvpania anacardioidcs, and we subsequently 

 obtained a few others in Sydney on the foliage of the Acociti dccurrciis. In length the; larva is about IJ inches, cylindrical and 

 moderately slender ; the feet are ten in number, the ninth segment only being provided with abdominal claspers ; on the eleventh 

 segment there are two short but distinct dorsal projections, and the head is sliglitly bifid and pointed. The general colour of the 

 body is dark olive-brown, with numerous fine brown annular rings. A band of pale ochreous-yellow, spotted with white, passes along 

 each side over the legs, but becomes very indistinct as it approaclies the liead and tail ; this band is edged with brown on both sides, 

 and beneath it on each segment is a velvety-black oblong patch. The dorsal portion above the band is longitudinally striated with 

 dark reddish-brown, and. there are a few whitish streaks, running parallel to the band, from the fifth to the ninth segments. The 

 fifth segment is slightly enlarged, and has on each side a black spot i)lacod diagonally near the centre of the baud. Head olive- 

 brown, striated with dark '•eddish-brown, and with a faint yellowish streak on each side ; thoracic and anal feet brown, marked 

 with reddish ; abdominal claspers brown, with an ochreous patch spotted with white adjacent to the lateral band. 



The cocoons were formed of coarse silk covered with line particles of earth, and were placed a little below the surface of the 

 ground. The chrysalis (fig. 1, male) measures about half aa inch, is rather slender in outline, and throughout a shining reddish- 

 brown. Some of the moths took wing in August, and others in the beginning of February. 



The perfect insect expands IJ inches. 



The Antennae: ^male (fig. 2) deeply bipectinate throughout, the pectinations finely ciliated ; female filiform. 



The Labial palpi moderately large (fig. 8 male, and 4 denuded of hair) ; middle joint nearly twice as long as basal, and four 

 times as long as terminal joint ; terminal very slender, and acute at the apex. The whole covered with 

 hair and scales, and projecting forwards and u[)wards about level with the top of the eyes. 



The Legs : male and female, long and slender ; intermediate i)air with two, and posterior pair (fig. 5, male) with four, 



thin spurs on the tibia). The whole thinly covered with scales. 



The wings are horizontal in repose. 



The whole upper surface of the male is chestnut-brown, covered with many short transverse reddish-brown striae : these 

 striae are more numerous near the margins and across the costa, making these portions appear darker than the disc of the wings. 

 A few blackish-brown transverse fascia) of very irregular outline occupy the centre of both wings, and there is a small blackish- 

 brown spot on the disc of the upper wing. Margins slightly undulating, and outlined with blackish-brown. Head, thorax, and 

 abdomen, chestnut-brown, striated longitudinally with reddish-brown ; antenna) reddish-brown, with yellowish pectinations. The 

 imderside is silvery-brown, clouded with bronze-brown near the hind margins. A distinct brown spot on the disc of both wings, 

 and a silvery-white patch at the apical angle of the upper wing. In the female moth the space between the transverse blackish- 

 brown fascia) on the upper wing is of a steely neutral-tint, shaded with rich brown on the inner portion, and near the disc, and 

 there are some additional dark brown patches near the apical angle. The basal half of the lower wing is steely neutral-tint, striated 

 with dark brown ; and there is an irregular band, formed of short transverse strite, near the anal angle. 



The illustration represents the leaf and ripe seed capsules of the Cupania anacardioides, with the caterpillar aud male moth. 



SELIDOSEMA GTLVA, Scott, ]\IS.~(Plate XXL, S)- 



Geometra gilva, Scott, MS. 

 Boarmia psychastis, Meyrick, MS. 



The caterpillars of this pretty species feed indiscriminately on the leaves of the Acroiujchia Baueri and the Oka paniculata. 

 Some of our specimens, which were captured at Ash Island in February, exhibited great diversity in colour, some being light apple- 

 green, and others pale pinkish-drab. The green larvee were larger in size, and probably would have produced female moths, 



