X.—THE GHOMETRIDAE. 117 
XANTHORHOE BENEDICTA. 
(Xanthorhoe benedicta, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlvi., 102; 
Xanthorhoe beata, Prout, ib. lviii., 77.) 
(Plate XIV., fig. 3 4, 4 @.) 
This species, which is extremely similar to X. beata, 
has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and 
at Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill in the South 
Island. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1,4 inches. It differs 
from X. beata by the presence of an elongate black discal 
mark in the pale space in the median band of the fore-wings; 
also by the hind-winys being faintly tinged with green, with. 
whitish cilia faintly barred with grey. : 
The egg, which is laid on its side, is about one-fiftieth of 
an inch in length, oval, considerably flattened, with a distinct 
concavity’ on each side. It is green, highly polished, with 
numerous. very shallow hexagonal depressions, Its colour 
changes to greyish-green about two days prior to hatching. 
The larva, when first hatched, is about ;; inch long. Head 
very large pale brown; segments 2-7 inclusive dull green; rest 
of body ochreous-brown, terminal portions paler; there are 
several rows of extremely minute black warts. The eggshell 
is not eaten on emergence. 
The length of the full-grown larva is about % inch. It is 
subcylindrical, flattened above, with very prominent lateral 
ridge, produced into several rounded tubercles on the sides of 
each segment; terminal segments very short bringing! ventral 
and anal prolegs close together. General colour dull pinkish- 
brown, rarely dull green; a series of blackish V-shaped mark- 
ings on mid-back, much less distinct towards head and posterior 
extremity; an interrupted blackish lateral line; general colour 
beneath paler with several darker sub-ventral lines. Head, legs 
and prolegs usually tinged with green, the last-named often 
strongly green; there are two rows of more or less distinct 
tubercles around each segment, each tubercle emitting a short 
thick bristle. The tubercles on the posterior segments are much 
larger and irregular, giving that portion of the larva a rugged 
appearance. Younger larvae are paler and greener in colour 
than the adult. 
This caterpillar is very sluggish in habit, hardly 
moving by day and dropping to the ground like a small 
twig. The foodplant is watercress, and the fading leaves 
and stems are often eaten as well as the fresh green leaves. 
In nature the larva no doubt is effectually disguised by 
feeding close to the surface of the ground on prostrate 
stems and leaves of the foodplant. 
The pupa is enclosed in a frail cocoon on the surface 
of the ground. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and frequents forest and scrub. It is often dislodged 
from undergrowth during the daytime, and may be found 
in the evening on the blossoms of the white rata. The 
colouring of both this species, and of X. beata, is extremely 
protective when the insects are resting on moss-covered 
tree trunks. 
From a batch of eggs deposited by a single female, in 
November, 1926, there resulted, in February, 1927, 32 
male, and 24 female insects. These specimens exhibit no 
variation in the characters relied on for the separation of 
the species from .Y. beata. We are indebted to Mr. 
Philpott for first detecting the differences between X. 
beata and X. benedicta. 
XANTHORHOE ADONIS. 
(Xanthorhoe adonis, Huds., N.Z. Moths, 63.) 
(GEIALe eLVe tie ome.) 
This extremely beautiful insect has occurred in the 
South Island at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill, Arthur’s Pass, 
Lake Wakatipu, Dunedin and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings 
are vivid green; there is a broad, wavy, black transverse line 
near the base; a somewhat broken line at about one-third, much 
broader on the costa and edged with white towards the base; 
a very conspicuous broad black line at two-thirds, shaded 
towards the base, and sharply edged with white towards the 
termen; between this line and the termen there are several 
black marks, forming an extremely broken subterminal line. 
The hind-wings are pale orange-brown, with a faint grey or 
whitish central band. 
Varies considerably in the thickness of the black lines 
on each side of the median band. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February. 
It frequents forests at elevations of from 1,000 to 4,000 
feet above the sea-level, but it is not common. It is 
evidently very closely allied to X. beata and X. benedicta. 
XANTHORHOE OBARATA. 
(Cidaria obarata, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. exxxii., 33; Larentia 
chorica, Meyr., Trans. N.Z, Inst. xx., 58; Huds., N.Z. 
Moths, 66, pl. vii., 44.) 
(Plate XIII, fig. 40 ¢@.) 
This very beautiful insect has occurred at Waimarino 
and Ohakune in the North Island, and at Akaroa, Otira, 
Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are 
dull greenish-ochreous; there is a short transverse black mark 
from the costa near the base; a fine wavy white transverse line, 
followed by a wavy black band; the middle of the wing is white, 
marbled with very pale blue; beyond this there is a broad black 
band wavy towards the termen, with a prominent rounded pro- 
jection near the middle, the whole series forming a very con- 
spicuous median band; there is a fine wavy white subterminal 
line a bluish-black patch on the termen below the apex, and a 
row of terminal black dots; the apex is very slightly projecting, 
and the termen strongly bowed. The hind-wings are pale 
ochreous-brown with several fine blackish transverse lines near the 
base; a broad shaded band in the middle, and a terminal series 
of black dots. The cilia are whitish-ochreous barred with black. 
This species varies considerably in the depth of the 
colouring, especially in respect of the hind-wings. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and is found on the margins of forests, but is very local. 
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