XI_THE PYRALIDAE. 1 

Or 
or 
CHAPTER XI. 
THE PYRALIDAE. 
The Pyralidae may be distinguished by the following 
characters :— 
The maxillary palpi are developed. The fore-wings with 
vein 1b usually simple, sometimes shortly furcate at base, lc 
sometimes present, 5 rising below middle of transverse vein, 
usually approximated to 4, 8 and 9 stalked, 11 from beyond mid- 
dle of cell. Hind-wings with frenulum, 1c present, 8 rising free 
approximated or anastomosing with 7 beyond cell, thence diverg- 
ing. (See Plate D.) 
The insects which are comprised in this large family 
are usually remarkable for their slender build, and rela- 
tively long and thin legs; the fore-wings are more or less 
elongate-triangular, sometimes extremely elongate and nar- 
row; the hind-wings usually relatively broad, ovate. In 
respect of the typical markings the fore-wings usually 
have three transverse lines, viz. first, second, and subter- 
minal, and three small spots in the dise, viz. a dot-like ante 
median called the orbicular, a similar one beneath it called 
the claviform, but very seldom perceptible, and a post 
median (variably 8-shaped, transverse linear, or dot-like) 
called the discal spot or mark. The hind-wings have a 
diseal spot and similar lines, but the first line is usually 
absent and all the markings very often obsolete. 
The larva is more or less elongate with 10 prolegs, 
usually with few hairs. Pupa with segments 9-11 free; 
not protruded from cocoon in emergence. 
The representation of this fanrily in New Zealand pre- 
sents the same features as that of the Noctwidae, but in a 
still more exaggerated form. The family contains about ten 
sub-families, and a vast number of genera and species, 
being most largely developed in tropical regions; but in 
New Zealand most of the principal divisions are either 
absent or barely represented by a very few stragglers or 
immigrants, whilst at the same time the groups of Cram- 
bus and Scoparia are so disproportionately developed that 
the Pyralidae as a whole form almost 18 per cent. of the 
entire lepidopterous fauna. 
The geographical origin of these numerously developed 
sections is undoubtedly to be traced to South America. 
This is remarkably borne out by the curious circumstance 
that Crambus is virtually absent from the Australasian 
region, though otherwise cosmopolitan and dominant, and 
therefore could only have entered from the south. It is 
probable that Crambus and Scoparia, which are tolerant 
of cold climates, and feed in the larval state on grasses and 
moss, attained considerable development in an antarctic 
continent under conditions similar to those now prevailing 
in the Falkland Islands (which seem to be actually a rem- 
nant of such a continent, and should exhibit a similar lepi- 
dopterous fauna), the remnants of this fauna being now 
isolated in a few last refuges, of which New Zealand is 
the chief. 
The fragmentary and scantily developed portion of the 
fauna represents the results of accidental wind-borne immi- 
eration over a wide sea, and might reasonably have been 
expected to be larger than it is, for many of the Pyrales 
are great travellers; perhaps in no other group are there 
so many species of very wide distribution. Many species 
range through most of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the 
Pacific islands, and yet have failed to reach New Zealand. 
(Meyrick. ) 
The Pyralidae are represented in New Zealand by the 
five following sub-families :— 
1. PHYCITIDES: 4. PYRAUSTIDES. 
2. GALLERIADES. 5. PYRALIDES. 
3. CRAMBIDES. 
Sub-family 1.—PHyciriprs. 
Maxillary palpi not triangular. Fore-wings with vein 7 
absent. Hind-wings with defined pecten of hairs on lower mar- 
gin of cell. 
A very large and highly developed sub-family of recent 
origin, barely represented in New Zealand; it is not im- 
probable that none of the species are truly indigenous. 
Six genera occur in New Zealand. 
1. .SPOROPHYLA. 4, HEPHESTIA. 
2. CROCYDOPORA. 5. HOMOEHOSOMA. 
3. PLODIA. 6. DELOGENES. 
Genus 1—SPOROPHYLA, Meyr. 
Tongue developed. Antennae in @ simple, shortly ciliated. 
Labial palpi moderately long, obliquely ascending, second joint 
much thickened with dense scales, terminal joint short, obtuse. 
Maxillary palpi rudimentary. Fore-wings with 4 absent, 3 and 
5 connate, 8 and 9 stalked. Hind-wings with 2 almost from 
angle, 4 absent, 3 and 5 stalked, 6 and 7 connate, 8 closely 
approximated to cell and anterior portion of 7. (Plate D., fig. 1, 
2, 8, neuration and head of Sporophyla oenospora.*) 
The single species is apparently endemic, but I think 
it may prove to be derived from Tasmania. 
nearly allied to the following. 
The genus is 


*The upper portion of the transverse vein of the hind-wings 
is so indistinct that the origin of vein 6 cannot be definitely 
determined. 

