






46 IX.—THE ‘NOCTUIDAE. 
» 
CHAPTER IX. 
THE NOCTUIDAE. 
The Noctuidae are distinguished by the following 
characters :— é 
Ocelli usually present. Tongue usually well developed. 
Labial palpi moderate, more or less .ascending, second joint 
densely scaled, usually rough, terminal rather short, obtuse. 
Thorax usually densely hairy beneath. Posterior tibiae with all 
spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 usually out! of 9, 
10 usually connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 
connate or short-stalked, 5 obsolete or imperfect, parallel to 4 
(except in the Hypenides and Plusiades), 6 and 7 connate or 
short'stalked or seldom closely approximated only, 8 shortly anas- 
tomosing with cell near base, thence evenly diverging. Plate C., 
figs. 6-12 and 14-18.) Imago. with fore-wings usually elongate, 
body relatively stout, and densely scaled. It may be noted as 
an established conclusion that antiennal pectinations, if not 
extending to the apex of the antennae, are in this family seldom 
sufficient to mark generic distinction. 
Ovum spherical, more or less distinctly ribbed, and reticu- 
lated. Larva usually with few hairs, often nocturnal, sometimes 
subterranean; often very polyphagous. Pupa usually subterra- 
nean. 
This very extensive family of dull coloured night- 
flying moths is abundant in all regions, the sub-families 
Hypenides, Catocalides and Plusiades being especially 
characteristic of the tropics. The structure is generally 
speaking remarkably uniform, and the markings on the 
fore-wings very similar, consisting of the basal, first, second 
and sub-terminal transverse lines and the reniform, orbi- 
cular and claviform stigmata, the latter being specially 
characteristic of the family. The hind-wings are usually 
destitute of distinct markings, though very generally much 
darker on the terminal area. The dull colouring exhibited 
by most members of the family is protective, being 
ially adapted for purposes of concealment amongst 
leaves and refuse. 
spee- 
dead 
Probably owing to their large size these insects have, 
up to the present, received more attention from New Zea- 
land entomologists than any other group, but it is never. 
theless true that’ they are the least attractive and most 
difficult of the Lepidoptera to study. As already stated, 
almost all the Noctwidae are strictly nocturnal in their 
habits and few ean be obtained in the day-time. They 
may, however, be freely collected by night at blossoms, or 
sugar, and some species are occasionally attracted by light. 
The family is represented in New Zealand by thirty 
genera belonging to seven sub-families. 
1. HeEnioruis 
d Py NDGA 
a . Me 
-lé vA Li X os) 
Sub-family 1.—AGrRoTIDE ya ne 
4. GRAPHIPHORA 
5. AUSTRAMATHES 
Sub-family 2.—PoLIApEs 6. ANDESIA 
7. HomMoOHADENA 
8. ICHNEUTICA 
9, LmrucaANIA 
10. ALETIA 
PHYSETICA 
Sub-family 3.—MELANCHRIDES 
ub-family 3.—MELANC ES Diesuenen 
PERSECTANIA 
ERANA 
MErLANCHRA 
16. Brryna 
. 17. ARIATHISA 
Sub-family 4—CaraprInIDEs : 
118. SpoporrEerRa 
19. CosMODES 
. F PEN Dis} 
Sub-family 5—Hyprenwes et a ea ee 
21. CATADA 
¢ Dep) JS. 
Sub-family 6.—CatTocaLiprs f oy OPHIUSA 
; (23. Mocts 
4st VRAD ORSREN 
25. OPHIDERES 
26. DASYPODIA 
Sub-family 7.—PLustapEs 27. SERICEA 
28. RHAPSA 
29. ANOMIS 
30. COSMOPHILA,. 
Sub-family 1.—AGRoTIDES, 
Eyes glabrous; tibiae spinose. 
Genus 1—HELIOTHIS, Ochs. 
Face with rounded prominence. 
Thorax and abdomen without crest. 
inner and outer claws. 
A rather small cosmopolitan genus of which some 
species range very widely; one of these has reached New 
Zealand. 
Antennae in male ciliated. 
Anterior tibiae with apical 
HELIOTHIS ARMIGERA. 
(Heliothis armigera, Hiibn., Samml. Eur. Schmett., 370; 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 34; Heliothis conferta, Walk. Cat., 
ix., 690.) 
(Plate VI., fig. 26.9; Plate I., figs. 15, 16 larvae.) 
This cosmopolitan species appears to be generally dis- 
tributed throughout New Zealand. Some forty years ago 

