
XI_THE PYRALIDAE. 
DIPTYCHOPHORA LEPIDELLA. 
(Diptychophoré lepidella, Walk., Cat., xxxv., 1761; Meyr., Trans. 
N.Z. Inst., xv., 14; Crambus gracilis, Feld., Reis. Nov., Pl. 
CXXXVii., 26.) 
(Plate XIX., figs. 14, 15 @ varieties.) 
This pretty insect appears to be generally distributed 
throughout the country. It is rare in the North Island but 
fairly common in many localities in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly # inch. The fore- 
wings are pale lemon yellow with golden reflections; the costa 
is edged with brown near the base; there is a@ clear white cres- 
centic spot. near the middle of the wing; a large cloudy brown 
patch on the costa beyond the first line and a much smaller patch 
before the apex; a series of short silvery bars on the second 
transverse line and three small black dots above the tornus. 
The hind-wings are grey. 
There is considerable variation in the shape and extent 
of the cloudy brown patches but the white crescentic discal 
spot is a good distinctive character. 
The perfect insect appears in December, January and 
February. It is usually found amongst low growing 
bushes, principally veronicas, and generally frequents local- 
ities situated between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above the sea- 
level. 
DIPTYCHOPHORA LEUCOXANTHA. 
(Diptychophora leucoxantha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xv., 15.) 
(Plate XIX., figs. 16, 17 ¢@ varieties.) 
This very handsome and conspicuous species is gener- 
ally distributed throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 2 inch. The 
fore-wings are rich orange brown; there is a very short trans- 
verse line at the base, a double wavy transverse line at 3, a series 
of rather short horizontal silvery metallic stripes near the termen 
and three minute black dots on the termen; near the centre of 
the wing there is a very large snow-white spot, usually edged 
with brownish-black. The hind-wings are very pale yellowish- 
white. 
A fairly common variety has the central spot pale yel- 
low, and a much rarer variety has the same spot very in- 
conspicuous and dull grey. 
The perfect insect appears from the beginning of No- 
vember until the middle of January. It frequents forests 
and in some seasons it is common. I have observed that 
in the South Island it is generally met with in beech forests 
at elevations of from 1,500 to 2,500 feet above the sea-level. 
This species rests with the wings drawn backwards and flat 
forming a triangle; the fore- and intermediate legs are 
extended and the antennae placed close together along the 
midback. Its rich orange-brown colouring resembles that 
ofa faded leaf and the same remark applies to both D. 
metallifera and D, selenaea. 
DIPTYCHOPHORA PLANETOPA. 
(Diptychophora planetopa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., liv., 
162.) 
(Plate XLIX., fig. 19 @.) 
This very dark-looking species has occurred in the 
Routeburn Valley at the head of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about seven-sixteenths of an 
inch. The fore-wings are dull orange ochreous almost entirely 
overspread with brownish-black scales except on the basal half of 
the costa, the first line is rather indistinct but om the dorsum it 
expands into a large irregular triangular white patch; there ure 
two round white spots in the middle of the wing, the lower spot 
being much the larger; the second line is distinct, whitish, 
strongly outwards-curved below costa, inwards below middle and 
slightly outwards before tornus; there is a small white spot at 
the apex and a series of deep black marks on the dorsum. The 
hind-wings are blackish-grey. 
The perfect insect appears in February and may be 
looked for amongst forest. in the south. 
DIPTYCHOPHORA METALLIFHRA. 
(Hromene metallifera, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc., Lond., 1877, 401, 
Plate xliii., 11; Diptychophora metallifera, Meyr., Trans. 
INEZ VETS thy Xavi, Lbs yaeKee. aa) 9) 
(Plate XIX., figs. 32, 33 9 varieties; Plate III., fig. 1, larva.) 
This large and handsome species is fairly common in 
the vicinity of Wellington It has also occurred at Auck- 
land, Waimarino, Ohakune, Nelson, Buller River and Otira. 
The expansion of the wings is about finch. The fore-wings 
are rich orange-yellow becoming ordnge-brown towards the ter- 
“men; there is a brown shade on the costa, a strongly curved 
transverse line at about 4 and another, very wavy transverse line 
at about 3; there is a large metallic, crescentic mark in the mid- 
dle of the wing; four horizontal leaden metallic stripes between 
the crescent and the termen and two fainter stripes near the 
tornus; the termen itself is edged with metallic lead colour; 
there are three minute black dots on the termen before the tor- 
nus; the cilia are snow-white, strongly barred with brown. The 
hind-wings are pale ochreous-yellow with a fine terminal brown 
line, and occasionally a faint transverse line near the middle. 
The cilia are white. 
In some specimens the whole of the space on the fore- 
wings between the transverse lines is filled in with rich 
brown and the costa is broadly margined with brown near 
the base. 
The larva closely resembles that of D. microdora, but 
is stouter, more shining and glassy-looking. It is very ac- 
tive, living in galleries in wet moss, on logs or stones in the 
forest. 
The perfect insect appears from about the second week 
in November until the middle or end of December. It 
frequents the banks of streams flowing through dense for- 
est-clad valleys, and is sometimes common in such situa- 
tions. 
DIPTYCHOPHORA SELENABA. 
(Diptychophora selenaea, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 131.) 
(Plate XDX.; fig. 30° 4°) 
This very beautiful little species seems to be gener- 
ally distributed throughout New Zealand. 
The expansion of the wings is barely £ inch. The fore- 
wings are orange yellow, with rich orange-brown markings; there 
is a very short transverse line at the base, a double angulated 
transverse line at 3, a double interrupted wavy transverse line at 
3, a broad diagonal shaded band extending from slightly below 
the apex to the dorsum at about 4; there is a small round white 
spot near the middle of the wing, with an elongate leaden 

