X.—THE GHOMETRIDAE. 103 
HYDRIOMENA LITHURGA. 
(Hydriomena lithurga, Meyr., Trans, N.Z. Inst., xliii., 71.) 
(Plate XII., fig. 39 @.) 
This very distinetly-marked species was discovered by 
Mr. R. M. Sunley, at Makara, near Wellington. It has 
since occurred near Sinclair Head. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 1 inch. The 
fore-wings, which have the termen slightly waved and oblique, 
are pale greyish-ochreous with the basal patch and median band 
clouded with brown; the edge of the basal patch is finely mar- 
gined with black and has ‘a prominent projection just below the 
costa; the median band is broad on the costa, narrow on the 
dorsum with a rounded projection on its outer edge above the 
middle; except near the costa its margins, which are strongly 
toothed, are finely outlined first with black and then with white; 
there is an elongate black discal dot near the first line; a dis- 
tinct pale apical patch and a wavy greyish subterminal line; 
the veins are faintly dotted with grey and whitish. The hind- 
wings are whitish-ochreous; there are several very faint greyish 
transverse lines, darkest on the dorsum, and a dusky discal dot. 
All the wings are margined with a very fine wavy blackish line 
and the cilia are pale ochreous barred with dusky grey. 
The pupa is enclosed in a loose cocoon amongst 
Mihlenbeckia on which the larva probably feeds . 
The perfect insect appears in October and November, 
and is apparently attached to the sea-coast. 
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Sunley’s 
collection. 
Genus 8—ASTHENA Hiibn. 
Face smooth, flat. Antennae in ¢ ciliated. Palpi short, 
slender, loosely scaled Fore-wings: areole double. Hind-wings 
normal. 
(Plate C. figs. 30, 31 neuration of Asthena pulchraria.) 
A small genus of wide distribution; the three New 
Zealand species are of Australian type. 
ASTHENA PULCHRARIA. 
(Acidalia pulchraria, Dbld., Dieff. N.Z. ii., 286; Chlorochroma 
plurilineata, Walk., Cat. xxii., 563, 676; Asthena ondinata, 
Cie mucpeixnesosn DL ximye4s Bully Cat: “N-Z,, Ibep: pl: 
iii., 20; Cidaria ondinata, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. exxviii., 17; 
Asthena pulchraria, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi., 69; Meyr. 
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1890, 813.) 
(Plate XII, fig. 29 4, 30 @.) 
This beautiful little insect has occurred at many 
localities throughout both the North and South Islands. 
[t is probably a common species in most wooded districts. 
The expansion of the wings is almost an inch. All the 
wings are very pale greenish-white with numerous faint green, 
wavy, transverse lines. The fore-wings have a more or less 
distinct brown band on the costal edge, and a conspicuous black 
discal dot. The hind-wings often have a slight projection on the 
termen near the middle. 
The larva, which feeds on Leucopogon fasciculatus is 
about 4 inch in length, rather stout, of fairly even thick- 
ness with the segmental divisions moderately excised; 
green; usually with a very broad chocolate-brown dorsal 
band containing three slightly darker lines; there is an 
indistinct yellowish-white lateral line, and a broad reddish- 
edged brown stripe on each side of the head. It chiefly 
eats the flowers of its foodplant and the brown dorsa! 
band is exactly imitative of the stem. 
The perfect insect appears from October till May, and 
is fairly common in open forests on hills, where its food- 
plant thrives in profusion. There are two broods in the 
season. It is also common and widely distributed in Aus- 
tralia and Tasmania. 
ASTHENA SUBPURPUREATA. 
(Asthena subpurpureata, Walk., Cat., xxvi., 1588; Acidalia 
tuhuata, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. exxviii., 5; Astheniodes poly- 
cymaria, Hamps., Journ. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., xiv, 648.) 
(HEME SCUi, We Bil Be ER) Tale TRienpey diy, sates Ze Kayels)) 
This pretty insect seems to be very common and gener- 
ally distributed throughout the country wherever the 
manuka (Leptospermum) grows in profusion. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings 
have the apex very acute and the hind-wings have the termen 
angled and bluntly toothed in the middie; all the wings are pale 
purplish-slate colour of very variable intensity, some specimens 
being almost white; there is a darker discal dot in both fore- 
and hind-wings and numerous fine wavy pale transverse lines, 
except on a rather narrow median band where the ground colour 
is usually darker and, in pale coloured specimens, sometimes 
almost entirely filled in with warm brown; the costa is narrowly 
edged with brown and there is a series of minute dark greyish 
terminal dots. The claspers of the male are much larger than 
in the closely allied Asthena schistaria. 
The larva, which feeds on manuka (Leptospermum 
scoparium and L. ericoides), is about 4 inch in length, 
cylindrical, of fairly even thickness, but slightly attenuated 
posteriorly ; the head is pale yellowish-brown with a dark 
brown patch on each side; the body is bright green; there 
is a narrow blackish dorsal line; a very broad pink and 
white lateral line, with a black bar beneath it on each 
segment; a broad dorsal patch of blackish-pink is situated 
on the three last segments; the legs are green and the pro- 
legs bright crimson; there are a few isolated black bristles 
on the larva. 
This caterpillar is difficult to find, as it remains closely 
concealed amongst the dense manuka foliage, from which 
it can be dislodged only by vigorous and continued beating. 
The larvae allow themselves to fall a short distance, hang- 
ing suspended by a silken thread, which they rapidly 
ascend when the danger is past. 
The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon about 1 inch 
below the surface of the earth. 
The perfect insect appears from October till April. 
It is very common in most situations where its foodplant 
is found and, owing to its pale colour, is readily seen when 
flying in the evening twilight. Specimens may also be 
taken in the daytime resting with outspread wings on the 
trunks of trees and on fences, where they are more easily 
detected than many other species. 

