



88 X.—THE GHOMETRIDAE. 
mens differ considerably in mtensity, and there are some- 
times one or two cream-coloured and rusty-red blotches 
towards the base or middle of the fore-wings. 
The egg, which is laid flat, is about one-fortieth of an 
inch in length, oval, cylindrical, sunken in the middle, with 
the surface covered with very shallow, irregular, hexagonal 
depressions. The colour is pale whitish-ochreous, becom- 
ing much darker as development progresses. 
The larva, which feeds on Rubus australis, during the 
spring and early summer, is about # inch in length, very 
stout, cylindrical, slightly tapering towards each extremity, 
rather dull green; there is an indistinct pinkish lateral 
line, the legs and anal flap being also pink; several con- 
spicuous black subdorsal warts are situated on segments 
5—11, each wart emitting a black bristle, and other smaller 
warts and bristles occur sparingly on the larva. 
This caterpillar is rather variable and some specimens 
are almost entirely suffused with pinkish. It is sluggish 
in its habits, clinging firmly to the thorny stems of its food 
plant, from which it can only be dislodged with consider- 
able difficulty. 
The perfect insect appears from September till March, 
but is not a common species. It frequents forest districts, 
and may sometimes be found at rest on tree-trunks, where 
the beautiful colouring of its fore-wings closely imitates 
that of certain lichens, and renders its detection in such 
situations extremely difficult. This species closes its wings 
when at rest, the anterior pair alone being visible. They 
are not held flat, but are curiously folded longitudinally, 
and the end of the abdomen is also curled upwards. By 
slightly raising the insect) above the level of the surround- 
ing surface, this peculiar attitude considerably increases 
its resemblance to a lichen growing on the stem or branch 
of a tree. This species is sometimes found in the middle 
of winter, and it evidently passes that season as a hyber- 
nating imago. 
Genus 3—MICRODES Giien. 
Face with cone of Scales. Antennae in @ simple or 
ciliated. Palpi long or very long, rough-scaled. Fore-wings: 
areole simple, 11 running into 12. Hind-wings in @ reduced, 
narrowed or distorted. 
A very small genus confined to Australia and New 
Zealand. We have two species. 
MICRODES EPICRYPTIS. 
(Microdes epicryptis, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1897, 384.) 
(Plate XI., fig. 2 9.) 
This rather inconspicuous species has oceurred at 
Paraparaumu, Plimmerton and at Wellington in the North 
Island, and at Dunedin and Invercargill in the South 
Island. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 1 inch. The palpi 
are fully as long as the thorax. The fore-wings, which have the 
costa very strongly arched and the termen very oblique slightly 
bent below the middle, are pale whitish ochreous very broadly 
shaded with pale brown along the costa; there are often three 
black dots on the veins at about 4; a faint discal dot and a 
strongly curved series of minute black dots at about 3. The 
hind-wings are pale whitish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears from September till March, 
and is attracted by light. It is a rare species, but seems 
to be usually met with in cultivated districts. 
MICRODES QUADRISTRIGATA. 
(Microdes quadristrigata Walk., Cat. xxv., 1200; Meyr., Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. xvii., 67: interclusa Walk., Cat. xxiv., 1202: 
toriata Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. cxxxi., 34: Chloroclystis recti- 
lineata Huds., N.Z. Moths, 45, pl. vi., 22.) 
CBlate xa ses 15 O%) 
This species has occurred at Otaki, Wellington, and 
Stewart Island. 
The expansion of the wings is } inch. The fore-wings are 
pale grey; there are several irregular black, transverse lines 
near the base, very broad on the costa; a broad, pale, central 
area with no distinct markings; then two very fine, almost 
straight, parallel, dark transverse lines alternating with two 
broader white lines, and followed by a very conspicuous black 
line, this being again immediately followed by a fainter black 
line; beyond these lines the wing is darker, with a wavy trans- 
verse white line and a row of black terminal marks. The hind- 
wings are grey with several faint, wavy, transverse lines and a 
series of darker marks on the termen. The cilia of all the 
wings are grey. 
The perfect insect appears in April. 
Genus 4._PHRISSOGONUS Butl. 
Face with small cone of scales. Antennae in 4 simple or 
ciliated. Palpi. moderate, rough-scaled. Abdomen slightly 
crested. Fore-wings in @ with glandular swellings or project- 
ing tuft on costa; areole simple, 11 running into 12. Hind-wings 
normal. 
A small Australian genus, of which two species are 
found also in New Zealand. 
PHRISSOGONUS LATICOSTATUS. 
(Larentia laticostatus, Walk., Cat. xxiv., 1196; Scotosia canata, 
ib., xxv., 1857; Butl., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5) ix., 94; 
Phrissogonus laticostatus, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 
1890; 80a Trans: NZ... Inst. “xiv, 22:2) 
(Plate XI., fig. 3 @, 4 9.) 
This interesting little insect has oceurred at Whanga- 
rei, Auckland, Wanganui, Waipukurau, Masterton, Otaki, 
and Plimmerton in the North Island, and at Nelson in the 
South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is # inch. The fore-wings of 
the male have the costa very strongly arched at the base with 
a conspicuous tuft of scales at about one-fifth, the apex acute and 
the termen very oblique; brownish-ochreous; the basal area is 
traversed by several wavy darker lines; the median band is 
very broad, its inner edge gently concave, its outer edge some- 
what irregular, darker brown traversed by paler lines; there 
are several darker patches on the terminal area and the entire 
wing is very faintly dappled and streaked with whitish. The 
hind-wings are very pale brownish-ochreous with many wavy 
darker lines and a very large patch of dark grey scales on the 
