82 IX. —THE 
of pectinations, and vein 8 of the hind-wings anastomosing 
with cell to beyond middle; the characteristic palpi and 
costal fold of the fore-wings are similar in both species. 
RHAPSA SCOTOSIALIS. 
(Rhapsa scotosialis, Walk., Cat. xxxiv., 1150; Herminia lilacina, 
Butl, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 388, pl. xlii. 11. Rhapsa 
scotosialis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. 38.) 
(Plate X., fig. 6 @, 7 9, Frontispiece fig. 9 egg.) 
This remarkable species is extremely abundant and 
generally distributed throughout the country. It is also 
found on Stewart Island. 
The expansion of the wings is 13 inches. The fore-wings 
have the costa considerably arched towards the apex, and the 
termen is bowed outwards in the middle; the colour is pale 
brown in the male and dark brown in the female; there are 
several obscure black marks near the base; the orbicular is very 
small, orange or pale grey outlined in black, the claviform is 
absent, the reniform is conspicuous, the outer edge is much 
indented, the inner edge is outlined with dull orange-red, there 
is a blackish blotch between the orbicular and the reni- 
form; beyond the reniform there is a curved transverse line fol- 
lowed by a series of minute black dots, then a very conspicuous 
wavy transverse line shaded towards the base of the wing; 
there is a pale apical patch and a series of small crescentic dark 
brown terminal dots; the cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings 
are greyish-ochreous; there is a rather faint line across the 
middle, followed by a broad shade; a series of small crescentic 
terminal dots; the cilia are dark greyish-ochreous. The anten- 
nae of the male are strongly bipectinated, The female is con- 
siderably darker, the markings are less distinct and numerous, 
and there is no blackish blotch between the orbicular and the 
reniform. 
Both sexes vary considerably in the depth of the 
colouring, and in many freshly emerged specimens there is 
a purplish blush on the basal area. 
The eggs are round, flattened below, bluish-grey or deep 
yellow becoming dull purplish about two days after being laid. 
The young’ larva when first emerged, is about 4 inch in 
length; the head is brown; the body dull white with a series 
of black tubercles round each segment, each tubercle emitting 
a tuft of bristles. The larva has sixteen legs, but the two 
anterior pairs of ventral claspers are not employed in walking, 
the caterpillar’s mode of progression, consequently, resembling 
that of a larva with twelve legs only. The foodplant is Mihlen- 
beckia and probably many other plants. Both dead and green 
leaves are devoured. The length of the full-grown larva is about 
1 inch; the head is small; the body short, rather stout, consider- 
ably flattened, with the anterior segments rapidly tapering; very 
dark brown, slightly reddish-tinged, with dull brown rings 
between the segments; there is a distinct lateral ridge and two 
rows of warts round each segment, each wart emitting a very 
short thick bristle; a small hump is situated on the back of the 
eleventh and twelfth segments. 
This larva is of sluggish darkling habit, only coming 
abroad at night. It feeds on dead leaves generally. 
The pupa is rather slender with the wing-cases very 
long. It is enclosed in a very loose cocoon, constructed 
of grains of earth and vegetable refuse on the surface of 
the ground. 



NOCTUIDAE. 
There appears to be a continuous succession of larvae, 
and perfect insects almost the whole year through. The 
larvae feed freely all through the winter, and the perfect 
imsects are most abundant in the late autumn. This 
species is very common amongst undergrowth in the forest. 
It is seldom found in the daytime, but at night it is 
extremely abundant in densely wooded situations. It flies 
in a very stealthy manner, and may soon be recognised 
on the wing by this feature alone. When disturbed it 
always secretes itself amongst dead fern fronds or other 
vegetable refuse, where its sombre colour effectually con- 
eeals it. 
The costal fold on the under side of the fore-wing of 
the male contains a very large tuft of extremely long hairs. 
It probably emits a scent agreeable to the female. 
Genus 29—ANOMIS, Hiibn. 
Body rather stout. Proboscis moderately long. Palpi long, 
ascending; third joint linear, much more slender and a little 
shorter than the second. Antennae very minutely serrated, more 
than half the length of the body. Abdomen extending somewhat 
beyond the hind-wings. Legs rather long and slender; hind 
tibiae with four long spurs. Wings moderately long. Fore-wings 
straight in front, angular at the tips, slightly angular in the 
middle of the exterior border, which is slightly oblique; first, 
second and third inferior veins nearly contiguous; fourth 
remote. 
Only one species has occurred in New Zealand, pro- 
bably an artificial introduction from Australia. 
ANOMIS SABULIFERA. 
(Anomis sabulifera, Guen., Noct., ii. 404.) 
(Plate X., fig. 27 9.) 
This common Australian insect was captured by Mr. 
Philpott at Nelson. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 14 inches. The 
fore-wings are elongate-oblong, with a ‘rather prominent projec- 
tion in middle of termen; yellowish-brown, covered with numer- 
ous small blackish-grey markings, most condensed on the orbicu- 
lar and reniform) stigmata; there are traces of a strongly sinuate 
fine transverse line, from ? of costa to beyond middle of dorsum. 
The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous. : 
The perfect insect appeared towards the end of March, 
and was taken at light. 
Described and figured from a specimen kindly lent 
to me by Mr. Philpott. 
Genus 30.—COSMOPHILA, Boisd. 
Body hardly stout. Proboscis moderately long. Palpi 
ascending, vertical; second joint stout, pilose; third cylindrical, 
acuminated, more than half the length of the second. Antennae 
pubescent or minutely pectinated, about half the length of the 
body. Abdomen extending a little beyond the hind-wings. Legs 
rather slender, not pilose; tibiae with very long spurs. Wings 
moderately broad. Fore-wings mostly luteous, straight in front, 
acute at the tips, angular in the middle of the exterior border. © 
