1X.—THE NOCTUIDAE. 79 
OPHIUSA PULCHERRIMA. 
(Grammodes pulcherrima, Lucas, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1892, 
258; Huds., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxvii., 355, pl. xxii. 4.) 
(Plate XLIV., fig. 30 9.) 
we ow 
A single specimen of this well-known Australian 
species was captured by Mr. Creagh O’Connor at Titahi 
Bay, near Wellington, in March. 1904. 
The expansion of the wings is 13 inches. All the wings are 
dark blackish-brown with white markings. The fore-wings have 
an oblique transverse band from about + on the costa to about 4 
on the dorsum; another band, very slender and curved near the 
dorsum, from a little more than 4 on costa to about $ on dorsum. 
There is a conspicuous black spot, partially ringed with pale- 
yellow, near the tornus, a small oblique white mark a little before 
the apex, and a fine oblique shaded line from the termen below 
the apex ending just before the black spot. The hind-wings have 
a very broad curved white band near the base, several spots on 
the termen, and a blackish blotch in the middle of the termen. 
The cilia of the fore-wings are grey; of the hind-wings white, 
except near the black blotch, where they are black. The head 
and thorax are dark-grey, the abdomen pale-grey. The underside 
is much paler, with the white markings much broader than on 
the upper surface. 
As this species has only oecurred onee in New Zealand 
it must at present be regarded as an accidental introduc- 
tion. 
Genus 23.—MOCIS, Hiibn. 
Proboscis fully developed; palpi upturned, the second joint 
reaching about to vertex of head and moderately scaled, the third 
typically moderate, oblique; frons smooth; eyes, large, round; 
antennae of, male typically ciliated; thorax clothed almost en- 
tirely with scales and without crests; tibiae of male typically 
fringed with long hair, the fore tibiae not spined, the hind tibiae 
spined; build slender; abdomen smoothly scaled and without 
crests. Fore-wing with the apex somewhat produced, the termen 
evenly curved and slightly crenulate; veins 3 and 5 from near 
angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 
8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hind-wing with the cell one- 
half length of wing; veins 3, 4 from angle; 5 fully developed 
from just above angle; 6, 7 from upper angle; 8 anastomosing 
with the cell near base only. 
Represented by one species widely distributed in Aus- 
tralia and New Guinea. 
MOCIS ALTERNA. 
(Mocis alterna, Walk., Cat., XV., 1833.) 
(Plate X., fig. 26 9.) 
This common Australian species was captured, by Mr. 
Philpott, at Nelson. 
The expansion of the wings is 1} inches. All the wings 
are pale brown. ‘The fore-wings have faint lilae reflections on 
the costal region; the markings are blackish-brown; a con- 
spicuous oblique transverse line from about 3 of costa to before 
middle of dorsum; a minute black spot near dorsum before this; 
orbicular stigma ear-shaped, outlined in dusky brown reniform 
large, dark brown, subquadrate, with wedge-shaped indentation 
towards termen; an almost straight transverse line from before 
apex to near tornus, much attenuated in the middle; the ter- 
minal area is slightly clouded with blackish-brown. The hind- 
wings have a wavy blackish transverse line from middle of 
costa to 3 of dorsum, followed by a very pale band; the sub- 
terminal and terminal areas are irregularly suffused with black- 
ish-brown. 
The perfect insect occurred towards the end of Feb- 
ruary, and was attracted by light. 
Described and figured from the specimen submitted 
by Mr. Philpott. 
Sub-family 7.—PLustApEs. 
Vein 8 of hind-wings shortly anastomosing with cell near 
base, thence diverging, vein 5 well developed; veins 3, 4 and 5 
approximated at base; tibia not spinose. (Plate C., figs. 12, 14— 
18.) 
Genus 24.—PLUSIA, Ochs. 
Antennae in male ciliated, palpi rather long, curved, ascend- 
ing, second joint rough-scaled, terminal moderate or short, more 
or less rough scaled in front, somewhat pointed. Thorax with 
large central or posterior crest. Abdomen with one or more 
crests. Tibia rough scaled, (Plate C., figs. 14, 15 neuration 
of Plusia chalcites.) 
An extensive nearly cosmopolitan genus; the two New 
Zealand species are immigrants. 
PLUSIA CHALCITES. 
(Plusia chalcites, Esp., Schmett., 447, pl. exli, 3; P. eriosoma 
Doubl., Dieff. N.Z., ii., 285; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 
36; P. verticillata, Guen., Noct., II., 344; P. rogationis, ib., 
344.) 
(Plate X., fig. 5 9; Frontispiece fig. 10 egg; Plate II., 
fig. 1 larva.) 
This insect is generally distributed in the North 
Island, and in the northern portions of the South Island. 
It has occurred very commonly at Taranaki, Wanganui, 
Napier, Nelson and Blenheim, but in Wellington it is 
rather a scarce species. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are dark grey with bronzy reflections; there is a pale 
band on the termen and several of the transverse lines are indi- 
cated by paler colouring, the two basal ones being often silvery; 
the orbicular is partly outlined with golden-white, and the clavi- 
form is wholly filled in with the same colour. The hind-wings 
are yellowish-grey, darker towards the termen. 
A variety is stated to occur in which the characteristic 
golden-white discal spots on the fore-wings are absent. A 
very pale variety is also found with the silvery discal 
markings partly confluent and larger than usual. In this 
form the cilia are whitish strongly barred with bronzy 
erey. 
The egg is semiglobose, pale ochreous with branching 
ribs radiating from the micropyle and a few faint trans- 
verse ribs between them. 
The larva has twelve legs; it is much attenuated 
towards the head; its colour is pale green, with a darker 
lateral line edged with yellow beneath; there are several 
wavy white lines and dots on the larva, as well as a few 
isolated black dots and hairs. It feeds on geranium, mint, 
bean, Scotch thistle, and many other garden plants and 
weeds. Its original food appears to have been the ‘‘ potate 

