

142 
SELIDOSEMA ALBIFASCIATA. 
(Selidosema albafasciata, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlvii., 196.) 
(Plate XVIT, fig.3 45 4°9.) 
This very mottled-looking species has occurred at Tai- 
hape and Feildmg in the North Island, and in Central 
Otago in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 14 inches. The fore- 
wings of the male are pale cream colour mottled with lighter and 
darker brown; there are faint basal and sub-basal patches; an 
irregular darker median band; a large, very dark, almost rect- 
angular patch at the apex and a faint mottling on the tornus; 
several of the brown patches are partly edged with cloudy yellow. 
The hind-wings are very pale ochreous. In the female the 
ground colour of the forewings is faintly tinged with purplish, 
there are no distinct brown markings near the base of the wing; 
the median band consists of a wavy brown line with a blotch 
on the dorsum and there is a conspicuous blackish-brown blotch 
below the apex; all the darker brown markings are surrounded 
with a more or less distinct yellow clouding, this feature being 
more evident than in the male. 
The perfect insect appears in February and March. 
Deseribed and figured from the type specimens in the 
Dominion Museum. 
SELIDOSEMA OCHRBEA. 
(Selidosema ochrea, Howes, Trans. N.Z. Inst. xliii., 127, pl. i., 1.) 
(Plate XLVI fic, 276645) 
This species was discovered by Mr. G. W. Howes at 
Woodhaugh, near Dunedin. It has also occurred on the 
Lyttelton Hills, near Christchurch. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are dull brownish-grey mixed with blackish-grey; there 
is a small irregular, ochreous basal patch, followed by a slender 
blackish transverse line, acutely angulated above the middle; 
the outer edge of the median band has a very prominent rounded 
projection slightly above the middle, and the subterminal line 
has seven sharp dentations; the space between the median band 
and the subterminal line is bright ochreous. The hind-wings are 
bright ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears from February till April, 
and is attracted by sugar. 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen kindly lent 
to me by Mr. Clarke. 
SELIDOSEMA SUAVIS. 
(Pseudocoremia suavis, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii., 497; Pachyenemia 
usitata, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii., 501; Psewdocoremia lupinata 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi., 98; Boarmia suavis, Meyr., 
Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxiii, 101.) 
(Plate XVI., figs. 18, 19 @ varieties; 20, 21, 22 9 ditto; Frontis- 
piece fig. 18 egg; Plate II., fig. 22 larva.) 
This species is very common and generally distributed 
throughout the country and occurs on Stewart Island. 
The expansion of 'the wings of the male is 1} inches; of 
the female about 12 inches. The forewings of the male are pale 
brown, speckled and mottled with darker brown; there is a 
double transverse line at about 4+; a very conspicuous transverse 
line near the middle, which is abruptly bent outwards towards 
the tornus before it reaches the dorsum, and a double jagged 
subterminal line. The hind-wings are ochreous, often mottled 

X.—THE GEOMETRIDAE. 
or streaked with brown near the termen. 
In the female the 
transverse lines are usually less distinct, and the brown speckl- 
ing often much denser on both fore- and hind-wings. 
This insect is very variable, hardly two specimens 
In some individuals of both sexes all 
the markings are very indistinct, the fore-wings being very 
heavily speckled with brown; in others the median arca is 
clouded with rich brown. Some female specimens have a 
very broad well defined dark brown median band, whilst 
others have the fore-wings almost entirely ochreous, with 
the usual transverse markings indicated by interrupted 
brown lines. In all these forms, however, the peculiar 
outline of the second line on the fore-wings is always trace- 
able and constitutes a reliable distinetive character. 
The egg, which is laid on its side, is oval, pale green, 
slightly more pointed at one end, and covered with num- 
erous fine ribs and cross reticulations, not very regularly 
arranged. It turns dull red a few days after being laid. 
The larva feeds on the white rata (Metrosideros scan- 
dens), the red rata (M. robusta), the tawa (Beilschmiedia 
tawa) and Leucopogon fasciculatus. It is considerably 
flattened and of even thickness throughout; the upper sur- 
face is reddish-brown, often with numerous blackish stripes 
and green and white markings which give it a very varie- 
vated appearance; the under side is pale green; there are 
two small tubercles on the back of the ninth segment, and 
a row of short filaments on each side below the lateral line. 
Some larvae are uniform dull green without distinct 
markings; others greyish-white finely mottled with black- 
ish-grey. 
being exactly alike. 
The pupa is concealed amongst refuse on the ground. 
The perfect imsect appears from September till May, 
and is often seen on mild days in the middle of winter. 
It is common in forest districts, where it is usually seen 
resting on tree trunks in which situation its colouring 
affords it efficient protection. With the extension of settle- 
ment it has become extremely abundant in gardens and 
other cultivated places, its larva feeding freely on Cupres- 
sus macrocarpa. 
SELIDOSEMA PROTOTOXA. 
(Selidosema prototoxa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. li., 350.) 
(Plate XLVIIL., fig. 28 @, 24 9.) 
This rather small, dull-looking species was discovered 
by Mr. Creagh O’Connor at Tokaanu. Mr. H. Hamilton 
has also found it on Hen Island, North of Auckland. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 14 inches of the 
female 12 inches. The fore-wings are very dull ochreous-brown, 
very slightly tinged with rusty-brown, especially in the female 
and heavily speckled with blackish-grey, particularly on the 
dorsal and central areas; there is a conspicuous longitudinal 
whitish mottling on the sub-dorsal area, plainest in the female 
and traces of a similar mottling on veins 6, 7, and 8, the veins 
themselves being somewhat darkened; there is a short oblique 
blackish basal streak and, in the female on the dorsum only, 
distinct fine brown divergent transverse lines at about 4 and 3, 
these lines being hardly traceable beyond the dise. The hind- 
