


74 - 
MELANCHRA MOROSA. 
(Xylophasia morosa, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii. 543; Morrisonia morosa, 
Hamps., Cat., v. 384, pl. Ixxxix. 4; Mamestra pelistis, Meyr., 
Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 20; Huds., N.Z. Moths, 19, pl. v. 3, 
4.) 
(Plate VIII, fig. 22 @.) 
This species has occurred at Auckland, the King 
Country, Paekakariki and Wellington in the North Island. 
In the South Island it has been found at Akaroa and Lake 
Coleridge, and is generally distributed throughout Otago. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are pale brownish-ochreous more or less shaded with dark 
reddish-brown, especially in the vicinity of the transverse lines 
and stigmata; the orbicular is grey, margined with pale ochre- 
ous; the claviform is small, round, dull grey edged with darker; 
the reniform is large, darker grey, its lateral margins edged 
first with pale ochreous and then with dark brown; the trans- 
verse lines are distinct; the veins are dotted with grey; the sub- 
terminal line is pale ochreous distinctly toothed before the tor- 
nus. The hind-wings are dark grey. 
There is considerable variation in the ground colour 
of the fore-wings. In some specimens the wing is almost 
entirely rich reddish-brown, whilst in others this colour 
is confined to the neighbourhood of the stigmata and trans- 
verse lines. Numerous intermediate varieties ocetr which 
completely connect these two forms. It is also noticeable 
that specimens from the extreme south are somewhat 
darker and duller than those captured in the North Island. 
The perfect insect appears from January till June. 
It is attracted by sugar and blossoms, and has been found 
on mountains at elevations of about 3,000 feet. It is 
very common in the Wellington Botanical Gardens on the 
white rata blossoms. Mr. Philpott states that specimens 
taken at Broad Bay, Otago Peninsula, are without any 
pink tinge, and have the hind-wings of a very dark fus- 
cous. Dark examples of this species are difficult to sepa- 
rate from agorastis, but the latter is somewhat shorter- 
winged and has a broad blunt anterior thoracic crest in 
place of the pronounced bifid one of morosa.* 
MELANCHRA LEVIS. 
(Melanchra levis, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxvii. 329, pl. xx. 4.) 
(Plate VIIIL., fig. 28 @; Plate XLVIIL., fig. 18 variety.) 
This very distinct, but obscurely-marked little species 
was discovered by Mr. Philpott at West Plains, near Inver- 
eargill. It has also occurred at Moeraki, Dunedin, and at 
Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wingg is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are rather broad, with the termen strongly bent inwards 
immediately before the tornus; brown faintly tinged with dull 
green; the markings are indistinct, blackish; there are two very 
faint double transverse lines on the basal third; the orbicular 
and basal half of the reniform are finely outlined in black, the 
outer half of the reniform being dull yellowish-white; there is 
a very distinct, slightly waved, subterminal line, finely edged 
‘with dull green towards the termen; the cilia are pale greenish, 

*Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix., 200. 

IX—THE NOCTUIDAE. ; 
irregularly barred with brown. The hind-wings are greyish- 
brown darker towards the termen. 
The perfect insect appears from September till Feb- 
ruary, and is occasionally taken at sugar. A remarkable 
variety of the male, kindly lent to me by Mr. Clarke, is 
figured on Plate XLVIIL., fig. 18. 
MELANCHRA LITHIAS. 
(Mamestra lithias, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix, 17; Morrisonia 
lithias, Hamps., Cat., v. 378.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 24 9.) 
This rather small species has occurred at Castle Hull, 
Wedderburn, Mount Ida, Lake Wakatipu, Vanguard Peak, 
and Hunter Mountains, at elevations of about 3,000 feet 
above the sea-level. It has also been taken at Lumsden 
Nevis, and Commissioner’s Creek. 
The expansion of the wings is 14 inches. The fore-wings 
are greyish-brown, with the transverse lines and stigmata 
whitish, irregularly edged with black; the claviform is minute, 
round and very distinct; the orbicular rather small, oval, 
oblique, black-edged, except towards the costa; the reniform is 
large, oblong, white, margined with black towards the base and 
termen and crossed by two grey lines; the subterminal line has 
two blunt teeth and there is a terminal series of blackish dots; 
the cilia are brownish-grey, narrowly barred with white. The 
hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base; the cilia are grey 
tipped with white. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and is attracted by sugar. It is evidently a local species. 
I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Lewis for my specimens. 
MELANCHRA HOMOSCIA. 
(Mamestra homoscia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 21; Morris- 
onia homoscia, Hamps., Cat., v. 378, pl. lxxxviii. 30; Hyssia 
sminthistis, Hamps., Cat. v., 280, pl. Ixxxvi. 17). 
(Plate IX., fig. 23 9; Plate L., fig. 18 larva.) 
This very dull-looking species has occurred commonly 
at Wellington. It has also been found at’ Blenheim, Dun- 
edin, Lake Wakatipu and Invereargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 13 inches. The fore- 
wings are uniform dark grey; the veins are marked with a 
series of white dots, preceded and followed by black marks; the 
orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots are scarcely visible; 
there is an indistinct wavy subterminal line. The hind-wings 
are grey; the cilia are white with a cloudy line. The head, 
thorax, and abdomen are grey. Varies somewhat in the depth 
of the dull grey ground colour. 
The larva, which feeds on the Tauhinu (Cassina lepto- 
phylla) during the spring and early summer, is about 14 
inches in length, rather slender, grey, darker on the back 
with the whole surface mottled and speckled with darker 
grey ; the back of the second segment is blackish with three 
yellow stripes; there is an obscure dorsal line; a series of 
very conspicuous white sub-dorsal spots, situated in a 
blackish sub-dorsal line; a broad wavy pale grey lateral 
line; the spiracles are pink; the legs and prolegs are 
brownish-ochreous; there are a few isolated short black 
bristles. This larva is extremely inconspicuous when 
