IX.—THE 
The newly emerged larva is about one-twelfth of an inch in 
length; the head is very large, pale brown, darker on the sides; 
the body is slender, dull whitish-ochreous with two rows of large 
black warts on each segment, each wart emitting a long black 
bristle; the two anterior pairs of ventral prolegs are small and 
are not regularly used in walking. The larva is active in habit 
and devours the egg-shell. 
The perfect insect appears from December till May, 
and is attracted by sugar and light. It is a rare species 
in the north, but generally distributed in the far south. — 
MELANCHRA AGORASTIS. 
(Melanchra agorastis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z..Inst., xix. 18; Morris- 
onia agorastis, Hamps., Cat. v. 371, pl. Ixxxviii. 23.) 
(Plate VIII., fig. 31 ¢.) 
This rather bright-looking species has occurred at 
Waiouru and Wellington in the North Island, and at 
Akaroa, Lake Guyon, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu, Routeburn 
Valley and Invereargill in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The. fore- 
wings are rich reddish-brown and very glossy with dull yellow- 
ish-white markings more or less speckled with grey, especially 
in the male; the transverse lines are distinct, darker brown, 
edged with greyish, the subterminal line being edged outwardly 
with yellowish-white; the claviform is small, grey, margined 
with dark reddish-brown; the orbicular is also rather small, grey, 
margined with dull white; the reniform is rather large, oblong, 
dark grey, margined rather broadly with yellowish-white. The 
hind-wings are dark brown. The antennae of the male are very 
Shortly pectinated. 
The perfect sect appears from December till April, 
and is usually taken at sugar. It seems to inhabit open 
country at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 feet above 
the sea-level. It is a rare insect in most localities, although 
fairly common at Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu. 
MELANCHRA FENWICKI. 
(Melunchra fenwicki, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., liii. 337.) 
(Plate XLIX, fig. 17 4.) 
This richly-coloured species was discovered by Mr. 
Fenwick at Dunedin. 
The expansion of the wings is almost 14 inches. The 
antennae are strongly bipectinated from base to near apex. The 
fore-wings are deep brownish-red; there is a short, ill-defined, 
dark brown basal streak margined above with a few whitish 
scales; a whitish dot above this; the stigmata are very distinct, 
finely margined first with dull white then with deep brown; the 
claviform is incomplete, almost round; the orbicular large, round; 
the reniform kidney-shaped; large; there is a subterminal series 
of deep brown marks margined with pale ochreous towards the 
termen, especially near the tornus; the termen is slightly waved; 
the cilia are brownish-red. The hind-wings and cilia are pale 
brown. 
Closely allied to M. agorastis from which it differs in 
the larger orbicular, and longer antennal pectinations. 
The perfect insect appears in September. 
Deseribed and figured from the specimen in ‘Mr. Fen- 
wick’s collection. 
NOCTUIDAE. 73 
MELANCHRA VITIOSA. 
(Apamea vitiosa, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 384, pl. xlii. 
38; Mamestra proteastis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx. 45; 
Huds., N.Z. Moths, 20, pl. iv. 40.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 13 4.) 
This very richly-coloured species has occurred at 
Thames, Ohakune and Wellington in the North Island. 
In the South Island it is generally distributed throughout 
Otago. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are very dark chocolate brown, often reddish-tinged; the 
markings are darker; the basal and first lines are obscure, much 
interrupted; the orbicular is round, sometimes slightly paler 
margined; the claviform is oval, both are outlined in dark brown 
and are often very indistinct; the reniform is rather small oval, 
white, or pale yellowish-brown, with a very distinct minute dot 
above and below it; the second line is finely toothed and strongly 
bent inwards below the reniform; the subterminal line is very 
wavy, much interrupted, paler, broadly margined with dark 
brown, with two rather strong dentations below the middle. The 
hind-wings are greyish-brown, with the cilia tinged with reddish- 
brown. 
The perfect msect appears very irregularly throughout 
the year, but is rarely met with. 
MELANCHRA OCHTHISTIS. 
(Melanchra ochthistis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 20; Morris- 
onia ochthistis, Hamps., Cat., v. 380, pl. Ixxxviii. 32; 
Melanchra vitiosa, Huds., N.Z. Moths, 20, pl. iv. 42.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 14 9.) 
This very obscurely marked species has occurred, in 
the Wellington district and at Christchurch. It is gener- 
ally distributed throughout Otago, and is found on Stewart 
Island. 
The expansion of the wings varies from 1% to 134 inches. 
The fore-wings are deep chocolate-brown, slightly paler between 
the second and subterminal lines; the basal and first transverse 
lines are margined with very dark brown; the claviform is irre- 
gularly conical, also dark margined; the reniform is elongate, 
eai-shaped, margined with dark brown towards the base and with 
dull whitish towards the termen, the whitish portion being some- 
times broken up into one or two dots; the subterminal line is 
paler, fine and wavy, sometimes irregularly dark-margined. The 
hind-wings are brownish-grey, paler towards the base. 
The larva, which feeds on Carpodetus serratus and 
Rubus australis during the spring and early summer, is 
rather robust, very pale whitish-green above with numerous 
white lines and dots; darker green beneath with yellow 
dots. In the light part there is a triangle of black spots 
on each segment. The young larva has a strong pink 
lateral line, but in mature specimens this line is confined 
to the anterior and posterior segments. The length of 
the full-grown larva is about 14 inches. 
The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon on the sur- 
face of the ground. 
The perfect insect appears from November until April 
or May. It is occasionally taken at sugar. 


