
148 
GARGAPHIA NEOSELENA. 
(Drepanodes neoselena, Meyr., Sub-Antarctic Islands of N.Z. 1, 
NO pL. Al; 3.) 
(Plate XVII., fig. 27 9.) 
This species was discovered in the forest at Carnley 
Harbour, Auckland Island, during the visit of the scientific 
expedition in November, 1907. 
The expansion of the wings is 1} inches. This insect is 
very closely allied to G. muriferata from which it can be dis- 
tinguished by its larger size, entire discal lunule of the fore- 
wings and closer approximation, on the dorsum, of the trans- 
verse lines of the fore-wings. 
The perfect insect frequents the windswept rata forests 
on Auckland Island, where Polypodium diversifolium 
grows in extreme abundance. 
Genus 5.—AZELINA, Guen. 
Face with projecting hairs. Antennae in @ thick, simple. 
Palpi rather long, rough-scaled. Thorax and femora hairy 
beneath. Fore-wings: 10 sometimes shortly anastomosing with 
9, 11 separate. 
(Plate C., figs. 63, 64 neuration of Azelina nelsonaria.) 
A South American genus of considerable extent, with 
which the four New Zealand species are entirely con- 
cordant; but it may be added that there are also other 
nearly related South American forms which show consider- 
ably diversified structure. i 
AZELINA VARIABILIS. 
(Polygonia variabilis, Warren, Nov. Zool. ii., 153; Gonophylla 
ophiopa, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1897, 387; Azelina 
ophiopa, Huds., N.Z. Moths, 93, pl. x., 26 @, 27, 28 9.) 
(Plate XVII., figs. 15, 17 @ varieties; 16, 18 9 ditto; Plate IL, 
fig. 5 larva.) 
This very beautiful and variable species seems to be 
generally distributed throughout the North Island. In 
the South Island it has occurred at Motueka, near Nelson, 
and on the Buller River. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 12 inches; of the 
female about 14 inches. The fore-wings of the male vary from 
pale orange-brown to very rich orange-brown; there is a doubly 
toothed shaded transverse line at 4, the teeth being marked with 
black dots; a conspicuous wavy transverse line runs from near the 
apex to the dorsum, and is also marked with several black dots; 
the median band is paler than the rest of the wing; there is a 
row of small black terminal dots, the termen has two small pro- 
jections above the middle. The hind-wings are yellowish at the 
base, becoming orange beyond the middle; there is a faint 
brownish transverse line near the base, and a conspicuous wavy 
transverse line in the middle, marked by a series of black dots; 
this central transverse line divides the yellowish ground colour 
of the basal area, from the pinkish-orange ground colour of the 
rest of the wing.” The female is larger and duller than the male; 
the fore-wings range from yellowish-drab to deep orange-brown 
or dark brown, with the outer transverse line dull red; there 
is a series of minute black dots on the termen; the hind-wings 
are dull orange-yellow, with a wavy central transverse line. 
One very distinet variety of this species occurs in 
which all the wings are pale yellowish-brown, with very 
broad blackish transyerse lines (fig. 15). 

X.—THE GEOMETRIDAE, 
This insect is evidently closely allied to Azelina forti- 
nata. It may, however be easily distinguished from that 
species by its broader wings and smaller terminal projec- 
tions. 
The eggs, which are usually deposited in January and 
February, are almost hemispherical, slightly ovate, flattened, 
pale bluish-green in colour, covered with numerous very slight 
hexagonal depressions. As the enclosed embryo develops, small 
irregular reddish-brown patches appear on the surface of the 
ege-shell. 
The young larva, when first hatched, is about 4 inch in 
length; very pale ochreous-brown, with two wavy orange-red sub- 
dorsal lines, and numerous tufts of long black bristles. The 
egg-shell is not eaten on emergence. The foodplants are various 
tree-ferns belonging to the genera Alsophila, Dicksonia and 
Cyathea. : 
The full-grown larva is about 14 inches in length and of 
uniform thickness throughout; the general colour is pale rusty- 
brown with an obscure pale-brown dorsal line, stronger on the 
thorax and at the commencement of each segment; there are two 
similar obscure lateral lines; the head is yellow, speckled with 
dull-red, and the entire larva is thickly covered with dark- 
brown dots and clothed with many very fine pale-reddish hairs; 
there are several obscure marks near the spiracular region, and 
a series of whitish tubercles on the sides of segments 5 to 12 
inclusive. 
_ This larva varies considerably in the depth of its 
colouring, younger specimens being always much paler 
than those of more mature growth. All are very protec- 
tively coloured and closely approximate to the reddish 
hairy midribs of the fronds of the tree-ferns on which they 
invariably rest. Growth proceeds slowly in’ the autumn, 
the larvae probably hybernating when they are about 4 
full size. They resume feeding about September, pupation 
usually taking place early in December. In eaptivity 
larvae pupate in the autumn, and the perfect’ insects 
emerge during the depth of winter. 
The pupa is enclosed in a curled fern leaf or hidden 
amongst rubbish on the ground. 
The perfect insect appears from January till April. 
It frequents forest, and may oceasionally be dislodged 
from tree-ferns or undergrowth, but is more often taken 
on the blossoms of the white rata in the evening. 
AZELINA FORTINATA. 
(Polygonia fortinata, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v., 41; Caustoloma (7?) 
ziczac, Feld., Reis. Nov. pl. cxxxii., 4; Azelina fortinata, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi., 106.) 
(Plate XVII., fig. 7 @, 8 9; Plate II., fig. 13 young larva, 12 full- 
grown ditto.) 
This striking insect occurs in forests throughout both 
North and South Islands. It is not, however, a very 
common species. 
The expansion of the wings is 12 inches. The fore-wings 
of the male are pale orange-brown, with an extremely jagged 
doubly toothed black transverse line at one-third, and a wavy 
line at about two-thirds; between these there is a black mark 
on the costa and the ground colour is often paler; the termen 
has two large projections, and several smaller ones; there are 
several small black markings on the subterminal area. The 
hind-wings are yellowish, clouded with orange-brown towards 
