VUI—THE ARCTIADAE. 45 
The larva, which has not been observed in this 
country, is greyish with black warts from which arise tufts 
of hairs, blackish on the back, and pale greyish on the 
sides; there is a white line on the back and one on the 
sides. Each segment is often barred with orange. ‘The 
head is reddish-ochreous, marked with black. It feeds on 
forget-me-not (JMyosotis). The pupa is reddish-brown, 
enclosed in a white silken cocoon spun up among the food- 
plant, or on the surface of the ground; in the latter case 
particles of earth adhere to the outside.* 
The perfect insect appears in February. So far as 
New Zealand is concerned it is evidently only an occa- 
sional immigrant. Although a feeble-looking insect it 
possesses extraordinary capabilities of flight, and is some- 
times met with far out at sea. It occurs throughout 
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. 
Genus 4.—NYCTEMERA, Hiibn. 
Head smooth. Tongue well developed. Antennae in male 
bipectinated throughout. Palpi moderately long, sub-ascending, 
with appressed scales; terminal joint moderate, cylindrical. Fore- 
wings with veins 7 and 8 out of 9, 10 connected with 9 by a bar. 
Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 sometimes stalked, 8 closely 
appressed to cell towards base, connected by bars at each end 
of appressed portion.+ (Plate C., figs. 4, 5 Neuration of Nycte- 
mera annulata, fig. 3, head of ditto.) 
An Indo-Malayan genus of some extent, spreading 
into Australia and Africa; the single New Zealand species 
is endemic, but approaches Australian forms. 
NYCTEMERA ANNULATA. 
(Leptosoma annulata, Boisd., Voy. Astr. v. 197, pl. v. 93 
Dbld., Dieff. N.Z. ii. 284. Nyctemera doubledayi, Walk., Bomb. 
392. Nyctemera annulata, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1886, 
760; Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. 218.) . 
(Plate VI., fig. 3 @; Frontispiece, fig. 4 egg.) 
This species is perhaps one of the best known of the 
New Zealand Lepidoptera, occurring in great profusion 
in all parts of both North and South Islands. It is also 
common at Stewart Island, in the neighbourhood of eulti- 
vation; and has been found in the Chatham Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1% inches. All the 
wings are deep sooty black. The fore-wings have an irregular 
cream-coloured band running from beyond the middle of the 
costa towards .the tornus. This band is interrupted in the middle, 
and crossed by several black veins, which sometimes almost break 
it up into a chain of spots. The hind-wings have a single large 
cream-coloured spot near the middle. The body is black, with 
several orange markings on the thorax, and a series of broad 
orange rings on the abdomen. 
This species varies a good deal in the extent of the 
eream-coloured markings. 
* South, “ Moths of the British Islands,” 1, 170. 
yOn account of the peculiar structure of vein 8 of the hind- 
wings this genus is generally placed in the small tropical family 
Hypsidae. 

The egg is semi-globose, deep ochreous, very highly 
polished, and covered with extremely minute depressions. 
The larva feeds on Erechtites prenanthoides, but in 
cultivated districts it is more often observed on Senecio 
mikamoides, a plant having a superficial resemblance to 
ivy, which frequently grows in great profusion on fences 
and hedgerows in various parts of the country. It also 
feeds on the common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) rag- 
wort, (S. jacobaea), rangiora, (Brachyglottis repanda), 
and Cineraria maritima. These caterpillars may often be 
observed on mild days in the middle of winter, and full 
grown specimens are very common towards the end of 
August, so it is quite clear that the insect’ passes the winter 
in the larval condition. At other seasons there is a con- 
tiuous succession of broods. 
The length of the caterpillar when full grown is 14 inches. 
It is covered with numerous tufts of long black hair, and is 
black in colour, with the dorsal and lateral lines dark-red. There 
are several large blue spots round the middle of each of the 
segments, and the membrane between each segment is bluish- 
grey. In younger larvae the bluish-grey colouring extends over 
a considerable portion of the insect. 
This caterpillar may be readily found, as it feeds on 
the upper surface of the leaves fully exposed to view. It 
is evidently unpalatable to birds, and hence the secret 
habits we observe in most larvae are absent in this species. 
When full-fed it selects a secluded spot, generally a 
erevice in the trunk of a tree, where it spins an oval 
cocoon of silk intermixed with its own hairs. Here it 
changes into a shining’ black pupa, speckled and striped 
with yellow. The insect remains in this state about six 
weeks. 
The moth first regularly appears in September, and 
continues abundant until April, occasional stragglers being 
met with during the entire year. It is extremely common, 
especially during the latter end of the summer, when speci- 
mens may often be seen flying in all directions. It has 
a remarkable habit of soaring in the early morning sun- 
shine, soon after sunrise in calm fine weather, and large 
numbers may frequently be seen thus engaged. This is a 
very unusual habit, as most day-flying Lepidoptera are 
not astir before 7 or 8 a.m. 
There is every reason to think that the vivid yellow 
and black markings of the present insect are true warning 
colours, indicating to any possible enemy its unpalatable 
nature. This is corroborated by the fact that, although so 
easily seen, the moth is not attacked by birds. Its slow 
flight, combined with the lack of any instinctive attempt 
at’ concealment, also shows that it is probably specially 
protected by a nauseous flavour. Owing to its diurnal 
habits| and bright colouring, this familiar insect is often 
mistaken fora butterfly by the uninitiated. 
This species also occurs in the Kermadece Islands. 

