








































e eS ee = Pie Skrer oo a x 
RE TS EE OR at Oe OR Se eh IEE Ss SS 


This species is extremely variable in the depth of 
colouring and intensity of the markings. 
The perfect insect appears from January to March, 
and is found in swampy places. It is very uncertain in 
its appearance, although sometimes fairly common over 
restricted areas. When at rest the wings are held so as 
to meet below the body, and a position is generally chosen 
with the head pointing downwards. 
Genus 4—DICHROMODES, Guen. 
Face with cone of scales. Palpi moderate to very long, 
rough-sealed. Antennae in ¢ unipectinated. Fore-wings: 10 
usually anastomosing with 9, but sometimes separate. Hind- 
wings: 6 and 7 approximated, 8 approximated to beyond middle 
of cell. 
(Plate C., figs. 44, 45 neuration of Dichromodes sphaeriata.) 
A characteristic Australian genus of considerable 
extent, which has established a small colony of six species 
in New Zealand, forming a homogeneous endemic group. 
Most of the New Zealand species of Dichromodes appear 
to be scarce; they are very inconspicuous and probably 
escape notice. 
DICHROMODES IDA. 
(Dichromodes ida, Huds., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxxvii., 356, pl. 
20Gb By 4.) 
(RIlgte SVE eal ara) 
This interesting species was discovered by Mr. J. H. 
Lewis at Ida Valley, Central Otago. 
The expansion of the wings is ~ inch. The fore-wings are 
very pale greenish-blue, speckled and marked with .black; there 
is an ill-defined wavy black stripe near the base; another at 
about 4, followed by an almost clear space containing a con- 
spicuous black discal spot above the middle; the outer edge of 
the median band is bordered by a very jagged black line, and 
is followed by a very conspicuous pale-ochreous line; beyond this 
are two very ill-defined black bands. The cilia are black, mixed 
with pale bluish-green. The hind-wings are pale ochreous yellow, 
speckled with black, especially towards the base and termen; 
there is a conspicuous black discal spot, and a clear yellowish 
subterminal band. The cilia are blackish. The head and thorax 
are black dotted with pale bluish-green; the abdomen yellowish. 
Mr. Lewis favoured me with the following note relat- 
ing to the transformations of this insect :—‘‘The specimen 
was bred from a pupa found in a cleft of rock: a chamber 
had been formed by cementing moss-dust and silk together. 
From the fragments of caterpillar-skin remaining, I judge 
that the larva was one J had tried unsuceessfully to rear 
a few weeks ago, found feeding openly on lichen, remark- 
able for its fimbriated aspect, each segment being produced 
into irregular lobed processes at the edges—very protective 
amongst lichen.’’ 
The perfect insect appears in November, and frequents 
open rocky country. 
DICHROMODES SIMULANS. 
(Dichromodes simulans, Huds., Trans. N.Z. Inst. peal leer a KDE 
(Plate XV., fig. 14 @.) 
This species was discovered by Mr. J. H. Lewis on 
the Old Man Range, Central Otago, at an elevation of 



134 X—THE GEOMETRIDAE. 
about 4,000 feet. It has also occurred at Alexandra South. 
The expansion of the wings is about ~ inch. The fore-wings 
are dull bluish-grey, with two diffused yellowish-brown bands, 
and the veins clouded with yellowish-brown; there are two 
jagged blackish transverse lines enclosing a darker median band 
which contains a black discal dot; a cloudy subterminal line and 
a series of bluish-grey marks on the termen. The hind-wings 
are yellowish-brown, clouded with dull-brown towards the base 
and termen, leaving the central portion paler. The cilia of all 
the wings is yellowish-brown mixed with black. 
This species has a deceptive resemblance to Notoreas 
fulva, from which it differs in the following respects: The 
wings are somewhat broader, the transverse lines more 
indented, the cilia not strongly barred, and the antennae 
of the male unipectinated. 
The perfect insect appears in February, and frequents 
vocky places. 
DICHROMODES SPHAERIATA. 
(Cidaria sphaeriata, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. exxxi., 14; Dichromodes 
petrina, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv., 216.) 
(Plate XV., fig. 12 4.) 
This rather dull-looking little insect has oceurred at 
Paekakariki and Wellington in the North Island, and at 
Kekerangu, Tapawera, near Nelson, and Queenstown in 
the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is from } to ~ inch. The fore- 
wings are dull greenish-grey; there is a black, jagged, somewhat 
broken, transverse line at about one-third, and another at about 
two-thirds, enclosing a slightly darker median band, sometimes 
containing a black discal dot; there is also a darker shading on 
the termen, and an obscure wavy paler subterminal line. The 
hind-wings are grey, with a faint wavy median line. 
The perfect insect appears from November till March. 
It frequents dry, open, sunny situations, generally alight- 
ing on paths or roads. It is also attracted by light. 
DICHROMODES CYNICA. 
(Dichromodes cynica, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xliii., 60.) 
(Plate XV., fig. 11 @.) 
This very dark-looking little species was discovered on 
the Lyttelton Hills, near Christchurch. It has also 
occurred on Mount Grey, North Canterbury. 
The expansion of the wings is $ inch. The fore-wings are 
leaden-grey, finely sprinkled with black; the veins are obscurely 
marked with dull yellowish; there are three broad wavy broken 
black transverse lines, the first at #, the second at #, and the 
third, which is somewhat diffused, subterminal. The hind-wings 
are blackish-brown slightly tinged with purple. The cilia of 
all the wings are dark grey. 
The perfect insect appears in November, and _ flies 
actively over stony places in hot sunshine. It is apparent- 
ly a very rare and local species: 
DICHROMODES NIGRA. 
(Cacopsodos niger, Butl., Proc, Zool. Soc., Lond. 1877, 395, pl. 
xliii., 4; Dichromodes nigra, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx. 60.) 
(Plate XV., fig. 13 4, 36 @.) 
This very dark-looking species has occurred on Mount 
Ruapehu in the North Island and on the Dun Mountain 

