7 
X.—THHE 
ably in superficial appearance, and is also remarkable for 
the variability of structure of veins 10 and 11 of the fore- 
wings in many (not all) species. Imago with body slender 
to rather stout; fore-wings broad to rather elongate, tri- 
angular; posterior tibiae of male often enlarged and enclos- 
ing an expansible tuft of hairs. The structure termed the 
fovea is a circular impression on the lower surface of the 
fore-wings above the dorsum near the base, usually placed 
about the origin of the basal fork of 1b; it is generally 
confined to the male, and is often sub-hyaline, sometimes 
surmounted by a small thickened gland; it may possibly 
be a scent-producing organ. It is strictly confined to that 
branch of which Selzdosema is the type, but is not invari- 
ably present there. 
Ovum subcylindrical or elongate-ovate, more or less reticu- 
lated, sometimes ribbed. Larva elongate, more or less slender, 
with few hairs, without developed prolegs on segments 7, 8 and 
usually 9; often remarkably like a twig of its foodplant. Pupa 
subterranean, or in a slight cocoon above ground. 
Of this extensive sub-family we have six genera repre- 
sented in New Zealand :— 
1. SELIDOSEMA. 
2. SESTRA. 
3. HYBERNIA. 
4, GARGAPHIA. 
5. AZELINA. 
6. DECLANA. 
Genus 1—SELIDOSEMA, Hiibn. 
Iace with appressed or shortly projecting scales. Antennae 
in male bipectinated, towards apex simple. Palpi rough-scaled. 
Thorax sometimes crested posteriorly, hairy beneath. Femora 
nearly glabrous; posterior tibiae in male dilated. Fore-wings 
in male with fovea; vein 10 sometimes connected with 9, 11 
sometimes out of 10 near base only, or sometimes anastomosing 
with 12. 
(Plate C., figs. 51, 52 neuration of Selidosema pelurgata and figs. 
59, 60 neuration of Selidosema productata.) 
This interesting genus comprises no less than twenty- 
six New Zealand species of which three are confined to the 
North Island, eight to the South Island, one to the Chat- 
ham Islands, and fourteen common to both islands. Most 
of them are forest dwellers, and highly variable. Some are 
very common, and from their comparatively large size, 
familiar insects. Owing to their great variability, the 
correct determination of the species is, in some cases, a 
matter of considerable difficulty, and the student, who has 
the opportunity, will do well to consult series of named 
specimens in a reliable collection. 
The genus is universally distributed and of consider- 
able extent. 
SELIDOSEMA PELURGATA. 
(Chalastra pelurgata, Walk., Cat. xxv., 1430; Itama cinerascens, 
Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. exxxi., 1; Stratocleis streptophora, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. 106.) 
(Plate XVI., figs. 14, 15 @ varieties; 16, 17 
II., fig. 4 larva.) 
2 varieties; Plate 
This species which is very abundant in the neighbour- 
hood of Wellington, is generally distributed throughout the 
North Island. In the South Island it has been taken in the 
Otira Gorge, and at Dunedin, Otara and Invercargill. 
GHOMETRIDAL, 137 
The expansion of the wings is about 12 inches. The fore- 
wings of the male vary from orange-brown to pale yellowish or 
pale slaty-brown; there is a doubly curved dark brown trans- 
verse line near the base; a broad straight line a little before 
the middie; an angulated line a little beyond the middle, and 
a curved subterminal line, usuatly composed of a series of tri- 
angular white dots, edged with dark brown; all these lines are 
much stronger on the costa, and are sometimes almost obliter- 
ated elsewhere. The hind-wings are pale yellow or whitish, 
with several brown-edged white spots near the tornus. The 
apex of the fore-wing is considerably produced, and there is a 
large rounded projection on the middle of the termen. The ter- 
men of the hind-wings is distinctly indented. In the female the 
fore-wings are pale yellow or orange, the transverse lines and 
white spots are usually more conspicuous, and the projections 
and indentations on the termen of the fore- and hind-wings 
larger. 
This is a very variable insect, especially in the male, 
some specimens of which sex are very much clouded and 
dappled with purplish-brown especially near the termen of 
the fore-wings. Many of the darker forms might readily 
be taken for distinct species, when compared with the pale 
orange-brown variety, but a good series of specimens pre- 
sents numerous intermediate forms completely connecting 
these extreme varieties. The females also vary, but are 
never as dark as the males. 
The egg, which is laid flat, is oval slightly flattened, 
deep bronzy-green, with a slight depression on the side, 
and numerous indistinct shallow hexagonal depressions. 
The larva, which feeds on ferns (Leptopteris hymeno- 
phylloides, Todea and Alsophila) during the spring and 
summer, is about 14 inches in length and very variable; 
some specimens are dull brown, with a row of green or 
pale brown creseentic spots down each side, and a dark 
brown line down the back; others are bright green, with 
a diagonal reddish-brown stripe on the side of each seg- 
ment; the segmental divisions are reddish-brown, inter- 
sected by numerous very minute whitish lines. 
The pupa is enclosed in a loose cocoon on the surface 
of the ground. 
The perfect insect appears from September till March, 
and is often very common in dense forest ravines. It is 
frequently dislodged from the dead fronds surrounding 
the stems of tree-ferns, and is also met with in great 
abundance towards the end of summer on the blossoms of 
the white rata. 
SELIDOSEMA ARISTARCHA. 
(Selidosema aristarcha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiv., 216.) 
(Plate XVL., fig. 30 @, 31 9; Plate II., fig. 31 half-grown larva.) 
This remarkable-looking species has occurred at Kaeo, 
on the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland, at Thames, 
Ohakune and Wellington, and is probably generally dis- 
tributed in forest districts throughout the North Island. 
The expansion of the wings varies from 1} to 14 inches. 
The fore-wings are light ochreous-brown; there is a small white- 
edged brown spot near the base; two oblique curved brown 
transverse lines enclosing between them a white space towards 
the dorsum; a short stripe on the costa, near the middle, edged 

