AXI—THE PYRALIDAE. 
OROCRAMBUS CATACAUSTUS. 
(Crambus catacaustus, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii., 134; Oro- 
crambus catacdustus, Meyr., ib. xx. 67.) 
(Plate XX., fig. 25 @.) 
This species has occurred at Mount Arthur (Nelson), 
Arthur’s Pass (West Coast Road), The Hump, Southland, 
Hunter Mountains and Humboldt Range, Lake Wakatipu, 
at elevations of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea level. 
The expansion of the wings is about ¢ inch. The fore-wings 
are dark bronzy-brown with a rather narrow, cream-coloured, 
straight central longitudinal streak from the base to the} termen; 
the costa is also very narrowly edged with white in the male; 
the cilia are dark grey with white tips. The hind-wings are 
very dark grey, with bronzy reflections; the cilia are grey tipped 
with white. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January. 
It is somewhat local and generally frequents rather swampy 
situations, or open limestone valleys, flymg with much 
activity in the hottest sunshine. 
OROCRAMBUS VENTOSUS. 
(Orocrambus ventosus, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lii., 30.) 
(Plate Oxi Vile fe Loe AellGs 10.) 
This rather dull-looking, but very distinct species, was 
discovered by Stella Hudson on Mount Arthur on January 
7, 1919. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are blackish-grey, very Slightly sprinkled with dull ochre- 
ous-brown; on the terminal third the spaces between the veins 
are more or less distinctly marked in dull white; the cilia are 
dark grey mixed with whitish. The hind-wings are grey, darker 
towards the termen; the cilia are cream-coloured. 
Apparently variable in the extent and distinctness of 
the white interneural markings. In some specimens there 
are traces of darker discal and subterminal transverse lines. 
The perfect insect was found abundantly on the open 
erassy mountain side at about 4,300 feet above the sea-level. 
Owing to the extremely backward character of the season 
of 1918-1919 it seems probable that, in normal years, this 
species would appear in the late spring, or early summer. 
OROCRAMBUS PERVIUS. 
(Orocrambus pervius, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliv., 118.) 
(Plate XX., fig. 24 @.) 
This species occurs commonly on Arthur’s Pass and 
on the high country around Lake Harris, beyond the head 
of Lake Wakatipu, at elevations of between 3,000 and 4,000 
feet above the sea-level. It has also been found on the 
Hunter Mountains. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. Very like 
Orocrambus catacaustus, from which it is stated to differ in 
having the central white longitudinal streak distinctly inter- 
rupted in the middle, and the termen oblique on its upper por- 
tion, instead of straight as in O. catacaustus. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Febru- 
ary, and frequents tussocks and other mountain vegetation. 
159 
OROCRAMBUS SUBITUS. 
(Orocrambus subitus, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliv., 116.) 
(Plate XIX., fig. 3-4, 4 9.) 
This very distinetly-marked little species was discov- 
ered by Mr. Philpott on the Hump Ridge, Southland, at an 
elevation of 3,500 feet above the sea-level and appears to 
be fairly common in that locality. It has also occurred on 
the Humboldt Range, Longwood Range, and Hunter Moun- 
tains. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly # inch. The fore 
wings are elongate-triangular with the termen obliquely rounded; 
golden-brown, clouded with white in the disc and towards the 
apex; there is a thick black streak from the base to beyond the 
middle, a short black stripe in the disc above the middle and 
another on the dorsum at the base; a subterminal series of black 
marks; all these black markings are more or less surrounded 
with golden-yellow scales. The hind-wings are blackish-grey. In 
the female the ground colour of all the wings is paler and greyer 
and the black streaks are margined with orange. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Febru- 
ary and frequents open slopes on the mountain sides. 
OROCRAMBUS THYMIASTES. 
(Orocrambus thymiastes, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1901, 
567.) 
(Plate XX., fig. 21 4.) 
This striking species was discovered by Mr. A. Phil- 
pott at Seaward Moss, near Invereargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about ? inch. The fore-wings 
are very dark brownish-black, slightly tinged with very dark 
red near the costa and termen, the central portion of the wing 
being almost black; there is a fine, slightly arched, yellowish- 
white, longitudinal streak from the middle of the base to about 
& near the dorsum, and another short, rather broader, slightly 
arched, streak from a little before the end of the first streak 
almost as far as the termen; there is also a very short whitish 
mark near the baSe on the dorsum, The hind-wings are very 
dark brownish-black. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February. 
At present it has only been taken at Seaward Moss, but, 
according to Mr. Philpott, it is very abundant in that 
locality.* 
OROCRAMBUS. CAESIUS. 
(Orocrambus caesius, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvi., 390.) 
(Plate LI., fig. 16 @.) 
This fine species was discovered by Mr. Philpott on 
Gordon’s Pyramid, near Mount Arthur, at an elevation of 
5,000 feet above the sea-level. Mr. C. E. Clarke has also 
taken it on Mount Moltke, near the Franz Joseph Glacier, 
at the same altitude. 
The expansion of the wirgs is slightly over 1 inch. The 
fore-wings are elongate-oblong with the termen almost straight; 
pale blue, heavily sprinkled with black scales, the markings are 
also black; several indistinct blotches on basal area; the first 
line, which has two very strong projections towards dise, extends 

*Trans. N.Z. Inst, MEK VI LGC 

