LEPIDOPTERA 305 



common and generally distributed." Mr Philpott says (1916) : " I have 

 not met with it myself and do not think it is in any South Island 

 collection." 



Mr Howes states that "the only locality I have met with this 

 species was on the shores of Lake Taupo on shingle; apparently it 

 was attached to a creeping convolvulus." 



Family ToRTRiciDiE 



Tortrix postvittana, Walk. 



Mr Hudson says : 



It is undoubtedly introduced from Australia where it is abundant. The 

 larva feeds on Geranium ( ? Pelargonium). It was first observed at Wellington 

 in 1891, and though not abundant, is steadily becoming commoner. 



Mr Howes records it from Auckland and Wanganui ; and Mr Meyrick 

 from Christchurch. 



Tortrix indigestana, Meyr. 



Mr A. Philpott says: "Meyrick suggests that this species may be 

 an introduction from Australia. I have seen only one specimen — 

 from Flagstaff, Dunedin." Mr Meyrick recorded it from two speci- 

 mens reared from larvae feeding on Pimelea laevigata, from Makara 

 Beach. Mr Howes states that it is very common on hills above 

 Waitati near Dunedin, where it was attached to Dracophyllum, and 

 is found apparently right through New Zealand. 



Laspeyresia pomonella, Linn. {Carpocapsa pomonella). 

 Codlin Moth 



This moth is one of the most dreaded orchard pests in all countries 

 where it is now found. It probably was introduced into New Zealand 

 from various sources, from Britain and America, or from Australia, 

 where it first appeared about 1855. Mr T. Kirk recorded having 

 seen grub-eaten apples some years previous to 1874, at which date 

 it was first noticed in Auckland, the fruit having come from Tasmania. 

 In 1882 it was recorded by Mr Meyrick as having been taken at 

 Wellington, and he added "probably widely spread, though hitherto 

 little noticed." There is no doubt that it was very common, for in 

 1894 the Agricultural Department reported it as occurring in very 

 many parts of New Zealand, and it took drastic steps to combat the 

 pest. In addition to pubUshing literature with instructions to fruit- 

 growers, it instituted close inspection of orchards and of all fruit 

 (apples, etc.) imported into the country. It also sought for and intro- 

 duced various natural enemies, especially parasitic wasps, such as 

 CalUephaltes messer and Zele sp. belonging to the Ichneumonidae. 



T. N. Z. 20 



