


96 | X._THE GEOMETRIDAE. 
the markings being more distinct towards the dorsum. The 
cilia of all the wings are pale brown barred with dark brown. 
In most of the specimens of this species the ground 
colour is entirely pale brown instead of green; the mark- 
ings, however, are not variable. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Feb- 
ruary. It frequents forests, resting with outspread wings 
on lichen-covered tree-trunks, where its wonderfully perfect 
protective colouring may be seen to great advantage. The 
remarkable brown patches on the wings have undoubtedly 
been acquired for this protective purpose, and the insect’s 
name is certainly a most appropriate one. It is not a 
common species. 
CHLOROCLYSTIS FUMIPALPATA. 
(Hupithecia fumipalpata, Feld., Reise der Novara, pl. cxxxi., 33; 
Chloroclystis maculata, Huds., N.Z. Moths, 44, pl. vi., 18.) 
(Plate XI., fig. 28 @.) 
This very distinetly-marked species has occurred at 
Gisborne, Mount Ruapehu and Wellington in the North 
Island, and at Lyttelton, Otira, Queenstown and Bluff in 
the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is about { inch. All the wings 
are creamy-white slightly tinged with warm brown or greenish- 
grey. The fore-wings have several irregular large black marks 
on the costa extending about two-thirds towards the apex; there 
is a curved transverse series of black dots at about two-thirds, 
and several irregular black marks on the termen near the middle 
and at the tornus. The termen of the hind-wings is irregular; 
there are numerous rows of black spots darkest near the dorsum. 
The cilia are cream-coloured strongly barred with black. All 
the wings have a wavy white subterminal line. 
The perfect insect’ appears from December till Feb- 
ruary, and frequents forest. It is attracted by light, but 
is rarely met with. 
CHLOROCLYSTIS SPHRAGITIS. 
(Pasiphila sphragitis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 51.) 
(Plate: Xi fis. (3) O- Plate f. fe: 36 larva.) 
This delicate looking little species has occurred at 
Wellington in the North Island, and at Christchurch, Otira, 
Dunedin and Invercargill in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is % inch, of the 
female-3 inch. The fore-wings are pale ochreous; there is a 
narrow darker area at the base followed by a narrow oblique 
pale band; then a broad median band, formed of numerous 
oblique, wavy, brown, transverse lines and bordered with fine 
blackish lines strongest on the veins; there are several small 
irregular dark patches on the termen, and a faint wavy sub- 
terminal line; all the markings are much darker on the costa, 
and portions of the costa, termen, and! dorsum are frequently 
tinged with green. The hind-wings are pale ochreous; there are 
numerous wavy, brown, lines on the dorsum, becoming obsolete 
towards the costa and a blackish central line thickened on the 
veins. The termen of all the wings is edged with fine black 
crescents. The cilia are pale ochreous barred with dark brown. 
The remarkable larva (Plate I., fig. 36) which feeds 
on the flowers of Miihlenbeckia, is about $ inch in length, 
rather stout, tapering at each end, with all the segments 
considerably indented and the skin much wrinkled trans- 
versely; green; the back of segments 2, 3 and 4 are dull 
reddish; segments 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have a red patch on 
each side, margined posteriorly and below with dark green; 
there are five conspicuous ereamy-white semicircular dorsal 
markings, partially edged with dark green, on segments 
5 to 9 inclusive; segment 10 is pale green, and the back of 
the rest of the segments dull reddish. The special colour- 
ing of this larva causes it to almost exactly resemble a 
short chain of the Miihlenbeckia blossoms and has evidently 
been expressly acquired for that purpose. The dark green 
and creamy-white markings are most deceptive and give the 
larva the appearance of having an irregular shape, whereas 
its actual shape is practically cylindrical. This larva is 
sluggish in its habits, mostly remaining concealed amongst 
the blossoms, but when walking its body is often gently 
swayed from side to side. 
The pupa is enclosed in a rolled leaf. 
The perfect insect may be met with from September 
till March, and is often locally! abundant in the early 
spring. It is usually found in scrubby forest, where it 
rests with expanded wings on the leaves and stems of 
shrubs, but it is difficult to find in such situations, the 
general colouring of the insect causing it’ to closely resemble 
a bird dropping. 
CHLOROCLYSTIS NERBHEIS. 
(Pasiphila nereis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 51; Chloroclystis 
minima, Huds., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxvii., 356.) 
(Plate XI., fig. 16 9.) 
This very dark-looking insect has occurred on Mount 
Ruapehu in the North Island and on Mount Arthur, Mount 
Hutt, Arthur’s Pass, Macetown, Mount Earnslaw, the 
Humboldt Range, Lake Wakatipu, and the Hunter Moun- 
tains in the South Island, at elevations from 2,500 to 4,500 
feet above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 1 inch. All the wings 
are blackish-grey with numerous black, dull white, and dull 
greenish-blue, wavy transverse lines, the markings on the hind- 
wings becoming faint or obsolete towards the costa; the cilia 
are dull white barred with greyish-black. 
Varies considerably in size. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February. 
It generally frequents cliffs on mountain sides, resting with 
outspread wings on the dark rock surfaces. In these 
situations it is extremely difficult to detect, and the proteec- 
tive value of its colouring is thus at once demonstrated. 
It flies freely in hot sunshine, about 5 p.m., resting now 
and again to suck honey from the Celmisias, Veronicas and 
other alpine flowers. 
CHLOROCLYSTIS CLARKEI. 
(Chloroclystis clarkei, Howes, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix., 274.) 
(Plate XII. fig. 18 4.) 
This very dark obseurely-marked species was discoy- 
ered by Mr. C. E. Clarke on Flagstaff Hill, near Dunedin. 
It has also oceurred on Ben Lomond, Lake Wakatipu. 

