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80 IX—THE NOCTUIDAE. 
plant’’ (Solanum aviculare); but now it only occurs on 
this shrub in uncultivated localities, where there is no 
European vegetation. 
The pupa is enclosed in a cocoon of white silk, gener- 
ally situated between two dead leaves on or near the 
eround. 
The moth first appears about September, and con- 
tinues abundant until tha end of summer. In Nelson I 
have seen it in great profusion, hovering over various 
flowers in the evening, at which time it also occasionally 
endeavours to gain access to beehives. In the same locality 
I have met with the young larvae in the middle of winter, 
so that there is probably a continuous succession of broods 
all the year through in favourable situations. 
This insect is found in Australia, Pacific Islands, 
Africa, South Asia, South Europe, and occasionally in the 
South of England. 
PLUSIA OXYGRAMMA. 
(Plusia oxygramma, Hiibn., Zutr., xxxvii., f. 769, 770; P. trans- 
fixa, Walk., Cat., xii, 884; swbchalybaea, ib., xxxiii., 833.) * 
(Plate X., fig. 22 4, 28 9.) 
This interesting species was first observed in New 
Zealand at the Thames by Mr. E. C. Sherlock. ‘It has 
since occurred at Whangarei, on the Waitakerei Ranges, 
near Auckland, at Otahuhu, at Napier, and at Feilding. 
It is widely distributed throughout Asia, Australia and 
the Pacific Islands. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 12 inches; of 
the female about 14 inches. The fore-wings are grey, very 
slightly tinged with bronze; there is a conspicuous, curved, 
oblique, whitish discal streak reaching from the first line near 
the costa to the second line before the dorsum; the transverse 
lines are fine, rather obscure, blackish-brown. The hind-wings 
are greyish-brown, slightly darker towards the termen. Jn some 
specimens the discal streak is absent or replaced by an extremely 
minute whitish dot situated in the centre of a rather large, dark 
brownish-bronze patch, and the general colouring of both fore- 
and hind-wings is slightly darker. 
Genus 25.—OPHIDERKS, Boisd. 
Antennae in male ciliated. Palpi long, ascending, second 
joint thickened with dense appressed scales, terminal joint 
moderately long, slender, somewhat thickened towards apex, 
obtuse. Thorax clothed with hair-scales rather expanded pos- 
teriorly. Abdomen without crests. 
Two species have occurred in New Zealand both of 
which have, no doubt, been accidentally introduced by 
shipping. 
OPHIDERES FULLONICA. 
(Ophideres fullonica, Linn., Syst. Nat., I., 812; Meyr., Trans. 
N.Z, Inst., xix, 37.) 
A single greatly damaged specimen of what may be 
this species was taken in Christchurch and brought alive 

*Dr. Turner considers this species is really Plusia albo- 
striata, B. and G. 
to Fereday very many years ago. No other specimens 
have since been observed in this country. 
The expansion of the wings is about 4 inches. The fore- 
wings are brown marked with lighter and darker and greenish. 
The hind-wings are orange with a large lunule and terminal 
band black. 
OPHIDERES MATERNA. 
(Ophideres materna, Linn., Syst. Nat., i, 2, 840; Huds., Trans. 
NZ Enist), x45, 2105; spl evin 2) 
Four specimens of this very large and conspicuous 
insect have been found in New Zealand—the first captured 
by Mr. Cook at Makara Beach, near Wellington, in May, 
1906; the second by Mr. George Howes, F.E.S., at Dun- 
edin, in March, 1907; the third at the Akaroa lighthouse, 
in October, 1917; and the fourth by Mrs. T. W. Taylor, 
at Nelson, in April, 1924. 
The expansion of the wings iS about 3% inches. The head 
and thorax are pale reddish-brown. The fore-wings are very 
broad, triangular, with the termen slightly waved and bowed, 
pale yellowish-white, very thickly strewn with numerous brown 
and reddish-brown short wavy stripes; the central portion of 
the wing has strong bronzy-golden reflections, this portion being 
divided into three fairly defined patches by two oblique whitish 
bands; there are two large and two small reddish-brown spots 
in the centre of the wing. The hind-wings are rich orange- 
yellow, with a terminal black band and two round black spots 
near the middle. 
This insect is stated to be attached to the banana tree, 
and the above mentioned specimens may have been acci- 
dentally introduced with consignments of that fruit. 
Genus 26.—DASYPODIA, Guen. 
Antennae in male ciliated. Palpi long, ascending, second 
joint thickened with dense scales, terminal joint moderately 
long, slender, somewhat thickened towards apex, obtuse. Thorax 
clothed with long hairs, without crest. Abdomen without crests. 
Posterior tibiae densely hairy. (Plate C., fig. 12, head of Dasy- 
podia selenophora.) 
An Australian genus; probably of only one species. 
DASYPODIA SELENOPHORA. 
(Dasypodia selenophora, Gn., Noct. iii. 175; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. xix. 38.) 
(Plate X., fig. 13 9; Plate IL. fig. 26 larva.) 
This large and very handsome insect is generally dis- 
tributed throughout the North Island. In the South 
Island it has occurred at Nelson, Richmond, Hokitika, 
Christchurch, Invereargill, and Dog Island, in Foveaux 
Strait. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is about 3 inches; 
of the female fully 33 inches. The fore-wings are very rich deep 
brown; there are two faint jagged transverse lines near the 
base and a distinct median shade; the reniform is very large, 
crescentic, steely blue, finely margined first with black, then. 
with orange, and then again with black; the centre of the 
crescent is filled in with black; beyond this spot there are three 
fine black wavy transverse lines emitting several very sharp 
teeth between the reniform and the dorsum; there is a faint 
subterminal line. The hind-wings are rich brown, slightly paler 
