XI—THE 
The expansion-of the wings is just under inch. The fore- 
wings are grey with white markings; the veins are marked in 
white near the base; there is a double oblique tranverse line 
from beyond the middle of the costa to + of the dorsum, a white 
patch on the costa near the middle, a very conspicuous strongly 
curved double transverse line near the termen and the termen 
itself is margined with white; there is a rather large greyish-black 
Spot above the middle of the wing with an oval white dot beneath 
it. The hind-wings are greyish-white. 
The perfect insect appears in December, January and 
February. It generally frequents lichen-covered rocks and 
fences, and is much attracted by light. It rests with the 
fore-wings folded backwards, forming a moderately steep 
roof, and in this position its raised scales and gencral col- 
ouring cause it to very closely resemble a bird dropping. 
Sub-family 4—Pyravustiprs. 
Maxillary palpi present. Fore-wings with 7 separate, 8 and 
9 stalked. Hind-wings without defined pecten of hairs on lower 
margin of cell, 4 and, 5 closely approximated or stalked, 7 usu- 
ally out of 6 near origin, anastomosing with 8. 
A very large sub-family, mainly characteristic of tro- 
pical countries, but in New Zealand very scantily repre- 
sented, except for the species of the genus Scoparia, which 
by its excessive development almost compensates for all 
other deficiencies. 
The following 12 genera belonging to this sub-family 
oceur in New Zealand: 
1. NYMPHULA. 7. NESARCHA. 
2. MUSOTIMA. 8. MECYNA. 
3. DIASEMIA. 9, PROTEROECA. 
4. SCELIODES. 10. HELIOTHELA. 
5. PROTERNIA. 11. SCOPARIA. 
6. HYMENTIA. 12. 
CLEPSICOSMA. 
Genus 1—NYMPHULA, Schranck. 
Antennae 3. Labial palpi ascending, second joint with pro- 
jecting scales beneath, terminal joint slender, somewhat pointed. 
Maxillary palpi with apex loosely scaled. Fore-wings with 10 
rising out of 8. Tibial outer spurs half inner. (Plate D., figs. 
25, 26 Neuration of Nymphula nitens; fig. 27, head of ditto). 
An Indo-Malayan genus, spreading more or less into 
surrounding regions. Larva aquatic, sometimes breathing 
by branchiae. The single New Zealand species is an immi- 
grant from Australia. 
NYMPHULA NITENS. 
(Paraponyx ‘nitens, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii., 556; Hygraula nitens, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 130; Paraponyx nitens, ib., 
Xs) Oo.) 
(Plate XIX., fig. 22 @.) 
This little species appears to be generally distributed 
throughout New Zealand. It has occurred at Hamilton, 
Napier, Masterton, Wellington, Christchurch, Lake Waka- 
tipu, Invereargill and the Chatham Islands. It is also 
found in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. 
The expansion of the wings is about inch. The fore-wings 
are very narrow near the base with the apex and termen much 
M 
PYRALIDAE. 177 
rounded; dull brownish-ochreous, often more or less mottled with 
darker brown; there are wavy whitish transverse lines at 4 and 
#; a whitish discal dot margined with brown and a geries of 
small white marks on the termen. The hind-wings are very 
pale brownish-ochreous with two or three indistinct white bands, 
the outermost band being broken between the veins. 
This insect is stated to be variable in the intensity of 
its colouring. Australian specimens are sometimes larger 
and are then usually lighter and more suffusedly marked. 
The larva is no doubt aquatic. According to Mr. Meyrick 
the perfect insect appears from November to March, and 
is generally common in the vicinity of water, besides being 
often captured at light. I have, however, found it rather 
a rare species. 
Genus 2.—MUSOTIMA, Meyr. 
Antennae #. Labial palpi more or less ascending, second 
joint with evenly projecting scales beneath, terminal joint slen- 
der, rough-scaled beneath towards apex. Maxillary palpi dilated 
with rough scales, truncate. Tibial spurs long, almost equal. 
Fore-wings with 10 rising out of 8. Hind-wings with 7 out of 
cell before angle, separate from 6. (Plate D., figs. 28, 29 neura- 
tion of Musotima nitidalis; fig. 30 head of ditto.) 
Besides the two New Zealand species there are a few 
others from Australia and the Indo-Malayan region, and 
one from Brazil. 
MUSOTIMA ADUNCALIS. 
(Diathrausta adunealis, Feld., Reis. Nov., exxxyv., ii.; Musotima 
aduncalis, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1884, 289.) 
(Plate XIX., fig. 19 9, 20 $.) 
This pretty species has occurred at Kaeo, Auckland, 
Wanganui, Wairarapa District, Wellington, Nelson and 
Christchurch. 
The expansion of the wings is almost # inch. The fore- 
wings are rather broad with the termen deeply indented below the 
apex pale brown faintly tinged with purple with white markings; 
the first line is rather obscure; there is an ill-defined white mark 
on the costa at about 4; two black edged white dots above the 
niddle; a conspicuous white patch, variable in size, with the 
veins marked in brown followed by a long, curved blackish line; 
there is a series of blackish-brown marks near the termen. The 
hind-wings are deeply indented below the apex and before the 
tornus, white, with the veins and six more or less interrupted 
wavy transverse lines marked in dark brown. In the female the 
white markings are replaced by yellow except near the base of 
the hind-wings and the brown ground colour is paler. 
The perfect insect appears from October till Febru- 
ary and frequents forest where maiden-hair fern (Adian- 
tum) is common. I found it abundant near Pipiriki on 
the Wanganui River, but it is not generally speaking a 
common species. 
MUSOTIMA NITIDALIS. 
(Isopteryax nitidalis, Walk., Cat., xxxiv., 1817; Diathrausta tima- 
ralis, Feld., Reis. Nov., exxxv., 23; Musotima nitidalis, 
Meyr.; Trans. Ent. Soe. Lond., 1884, 290.) 
(Plate XIX., fig. 18 4; Frontispiece, fig. 22 egg.) 
This very neatly-marked little insect is very common 
and generally distributed throughout the country, and has 

