





44 VIl.—THE 
The perfect insect occurs in January, frequenting 
sunny, grassy slopes on the mountain-sides, at about 4,000 
feet above the sea-level. It flies with great rapidity; hence 
it is generally very difficult to catch. 
METACRIAS. STRATEGICA. 
(Arctia strategicad, Huds., Entom., 1889, 538. Metacrias strategica, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. 216.) 
(Plate VI., fig. 10 @, 9 @; Plate IL, fig. 20 larva.) 
This interesting species was discovered by Mr. W. W. 
Smith near the summit of the Richardson Range, in South 
Canterbury, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet above the 
sea-level. It has since been found abundantly by Messrs. 
Howes and Philpott at various localities in the Invercargill 
district, and on Flagstaff Hill, near Dunedin. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is from 14 to 1$ 
inches. The fore-wings are black, with two broad, dull yellow, 
longitudinal streaks; between the costa and the first streak is a 
very fine yellowish line, and between the two streaks there are 
three similar lines. The hind-wings are bright yellow, with a 
broad black band, parallel to the termen, interrupted just before 
the tornus; the vicinity of this black band is tinged with crimson. 
The body is black; the top of the head, collar, and sides of the 
thorax and abdomen are dull yellow. The female has the wings 
rudimentary and is quite incapable of flight. The body is very 
stout, clothed with dense tufts of pale ochreous hair-like scales; 
the legs and antennae are short but well developed. 
Male specimens from the Invercargill district are 
somewhat smaller than the original type specimen, and in 
many of them the crimson shading on the hind-wings is 
absent. The fine yellowish lines on the fore-wings are 
occasionally but faintly indicated, or obsolete. The speci- 
men figured in this work was taken at Invercargill, whilst 
former figures were made from the type specimen. 
According to Mr. Howes* the larvae, which feed on 
grasses, are of two distinct varieties; one glossy black, 
merging rtnto rich brown beneath; the other a deep glossy 
brown above, becoming light brown beneath. These 
larvae are stated to resemble those of Nyctemera annu- 
lata, but the hairs are longer and are arranged in denser 
tufts; there are also several long grey hairs projecting 
from the posterior extremity. The full grown larvae of 
Metacrias strategica is about 1$ inches in length. When 
alarmed it invariably rolls itself into a ball, remaining in 
that position for a considerable time. The pupa is 
enclosed in a slight oval cocoon composed of silk and the 
larval hairs. It is usually attached to the under-surface 
of a log. The male pupa is more elongate than the female. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Feb- 
ruary, and seems to frequent grassy places on the out- 
skirts of forest. The flight of the male is described as 
very swift, about seven feet from the ground, and much 
resembling that of a humble-bee (Bombus). The female 
is extremely sluggish, walking very slowly, and with con- 
siderable difficulty. From observations made by Messrs. 
Howes and Philpott, it appears evident that this species 
passes the winter months as a hybernating larva. 
* Trans, N.Z. Inst. xxxiii., 166. 


ARCTIADAEL. 
Genus 2.—CELAMA, Walk. 
Proboscis well developed; palpi porrect, extending about the 
length of head; the 2nd joint roughly scaled above and below, 
the 38rd modérate, slightly scaled; maxillary palpi minute; frons 
with tuft of scales; antennae with tuft of scales on basal joint; 
tibiae with spurs well developed. Fore-wing triangular; vein 3 
from before angle of cell; 5 from above angle, 6 from below 
upper angle; 7 and 8 stalked; 9, 10 absent; 11 oblique. Hind- 
wing with vein 3 from angle of cell; 4 absent; 5 from middle of 
discocellulars or well above angle; 6, 7 stalked, rarely from cell; 
8 from middle of cell. 
An Australian genus, of which only one species is 
known in New Zealand at present. 
CELAMA PARVITIS. 
(Adeixvis parvitis, Howes, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix., 274.) 
(Plate XLIV, fig. 7 9.) 
This interesting little species was discovered by Mr. 
C. E. Clarke at Broad Bay, Otago Peninsular. It has 
also oeeurred at Nelson and at Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is § inch. The fore-wings are 
triangular with the termen obliquely rounded; very pale whitish- 
grey; there is a slightly-curved oblique brownish-black bar across 
the middle of the disc and a dark grey shading around the apex 
and along the termen; a few scattered yellowish scales are sit'u- 
ated on the discal bar. The hind-wings and cilia are greyish- 
white. 
The perfect insect appears in December. 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen in 
Clarke’s collection. 
We are indebted to Mr. Philpott for assigning this 
Insect to its correct position. (See Trans. N.Z. Inst., 
lvii., 703.); 
Mr. 
Genus 3—UTETHEISA, Hiibn. 
Head smooth. Tongue developed. Antennae in male cili- 
ated, with longer setae at joints. Palpi moderate, ascending, 
with loosely appressed scales. Thorax smooth beneath. Posterior 
tibiae with all spurs very short. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 
out of 9, 10 connectled with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3, 4, 5 
rather approximated, 6 and 7 connate or short-stalked, 8 anasto- 
mosing to middle of cell. 
A small cosmopolitan genus represented in New Zea- 
land by a single species of wide distribution. 
UTETHEISA PULCHELLA, 
(Deiopeia pulchella, L., Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxii., 217.) 
(Plate VI., fig. 18 9.) 
Stray specimens of this very familiar European 
species have occurred at Auckland, Thames, Wainui--o- 
mata, Petone and Titahi Bay in the Wellington district, 
as well as in Nelson, at Dunedin and Waitaki, but the 
records at present available indicate that its appearance 
in New Zealand is very exceptional. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1} inches. The fore- 
wings are white, with five irregular transverse rows of oblong 
crimson spots, alternating with six irregular rows of small black 
dots. The hind-wings are white, irregularly clouded with black 
on the termen; there are two small black spots near the middle. 
The body is white; the head and thorax are spotted with crimson, 
and the antennae are black. 
