IX.—THE 
than the fore-wings; there are several wavy, transverse lines. 
The termen of both wings is slightly scalloped with a minute 
bluish-white dot at each indentation; the cilia are dark brown. 
The egg, which is about one twenty-fourth of an inch in 
diameter, is dark blackish green, hemispherical, somewhat flat- 
tened and covered with many prominent branching ribs; between 
the ribs there are numerous depressions, which become some- 
what regular hexagons on the top of the egg where the micro- 
pyle is situated. The larva, when first excluded from the egg, 
is about three-sixteenths of an inch in length, very slender, cylin- 
drical, with large head; pale greyish-ochreous, becoming blackish- 
grey in the middle; there are numerous minute black warts, 
emitting stout black bristles; four elongate ventral prolegs and 
the usual anal prolegs. At this time the larva progresses like 
a true Geometer, and is very active. It does not eat the egg 
shell on emergence. After the first moult the larva is almost 
uniform dull black. 
The length of the full-grown larva is about 24 inches; it 
is stout, cylindrical, slightly flattened and a little tapering at 
each end; there are eight ventral prolegs; the back and sides 
are very dull deep yellowish-brown, thickly speckled with black- 
ish; there are obscure dusky subdorsal and lateral bands; the 
head is brighter brown with two very deep chocolate bands in 
front; the top of segment 2 is also brighter brown; the anal seg- 
ment is slightly yellowish; there is a series of minute pale dots 
in the middle of the lateral and subdorsal bands, each dot emit- 
ting a short hair; when the larva is walking rapidly two black 
bars appear on the back between segments 5 and 6, and 6 and 7; 
there is a white mark on the side of segment 9. The ventral 
surface is greyish with a very conspicuous black blotch in the 
middle of segments 5 to 12. 
This caterpillar, which feeds on Acacia, is sluggish in 
its habits resting on the stems of its foodplant where it is 
extremely inconspicuous. It is full-grown about the end 
of January. 
According to Colenso the pupa is enclosed in a cocoon 
formed of leaves fastened together with silk, the insect 
remaining in this condition for about two months. The 
pupa-case (after emergence) is nearly cylindrical, very 
obtuse at the head, and tapering regularly downwards 
from the end of the wing-cases, with the tail conical; the 
abdominal segments are very strongly marked. Its colour 
is dark red, with a bluish or violet bloom, but smooth and 
shining on its prominent parts.* 
The perfect insect appears in February, March and 
April, but it is rather a scarce species. It is attracted 
by light, and thus occasionally enters houses, where speci- 
mens are generally captured. Hybernated individuals are 
sometimes found in October and November at which time 
the eggs are deposited. 
Mr. Morris N. Watt has directed my attention to the 
fact that, when at rest, the two ringed eye-like marks 
together with the body and partly open wings, cause this 
insect to closely resemble the head of an owl, and that this 
would terrify any small bird which might otherwise be 
inclined to devour the moth. Mr. Watt’s suggestion 
seems very possibly a correct’ explanation of the unusual 
wing markings and is extremely interesting. 
This species occurs commonly in Eastern Australia. 
*Trans. N.Z. Inst., xi., 300. 
NOCTUIDAE. 81 
A very closely allied form (Dasypodia cymatoides, 
yuen.), found by Colonel Tait in March, 1925, at Whan- 
garel, has the ground colour of the wings darker and less 
brown than the ordinary D. selenophora. The marginal 
indentations are also stronger, and there is a conspicuous 
wavy subterminal line, faintly edged with bluish-white; 
on the fore-wings there is a small, but conspicuous, orbi- 
cular stigma, and on the hind-wings the wavy transverse 
lines, on the median area, are more conspicuous than in D. 
selenophora. Specimens of this form have also occurred 
at Leigh, Puhoi, Maungaturoto, and Whangamarino in the 
Auckland District. 
Genus 27.—SERICEA, Guen. 
Body stout. Proboscis rather long. Palpi long, nearly 
vertical; second joint stout, somewhat curved, pilose beneath; 
third slender, linear, obtuse at the tip, much more than half 
the length of the second. Antennae slender, simple, very much 
more than half the length of the body. Abdomen extending 
as far as the hind-wings; first, second and third segments tufted. 
Legs long, stout, pilose; hind tibiae with very long spurs. 
Wings broad, much denticulated. Fore-wings curved towards 
the tip of the costa, rectangular at the tips, slightly oblique and 
convex along the exterior border. 
Represented by one species, no doubt accidentally 
introduced. 
SERICHEA SPECTANS. 
(Sericea spectans, Guen., Noct., iii., 172.) 
(Plate LL. fig. 12 9.) 
A specimen of this very handsome insect) was cap- 
tured by Mr. W. Wastney at Nelson. 
The expansion of the wings is about 34 inches. All the 
wings are deep brown with strong purplish reflections; the fore- 
wings have several wavy blackish lines on the basal area; a large 
eyelike spot in the disc containing a small black rectangular 
mark and a blotch of metallic green; several wavy blackish lines 
around and below the discal spot, a distinct subterminal line 
and two lines parallel to the termen. The hind-wings have 
three very strongly curved transverse lines near the middle and 
an irregular black blotch, with two white centres, near the 
tornus. 
Deseribed and figured from an Australian specimen 
kindly lent to me by Mr. Philpott. 
Genus 28.—_RHAPSA, Walk. 
Antennae in male bi-pectinated, towards apex simple. Palpi 
very long obliquely ascending, clothed with rough scales through- 
out, second joint in male with tuft of long projecting scales 
above towards apex, terminal joint moderate. Thorax clothed 
with scales, without crest. Abdomen without crest. Posterior 
tibiae with appressed scales. Fore-wings in male beneath with 
large broad costal fold on anterior half. (Plate C., figs. 16, 17 
neuration of Rhapsa scotosialis; fig. 18 head of ditto.) 
We have one species in New Zealand. Another 
closely allied species occurs in South-east Australia, so 
similar that it’ might be thought identical, but with the 
antennae of the male furnished with long bristles instead 
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