XI.—THE 
MECYNA NOTATA. 
(Scopula notata, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii, 493; Mnesictena notata, 
Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1884, 330.) 
(Plate XLIV., fig. 21 @.) 
This species is generally distributed throughout the 
South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under 1 inch. The 
fore-wings, which are rather narrow and triangular, are pale 
veddish-ochreous clouded with grey on the basal half; the first 
line is very indistinct; the reniform consists of a somewhat 
elongate-oblong clear white spot placed obliquely on the wing, 
its lower end pointing inwards, and the whole spot surrounded 
by a blackish shading; the second line is distinct, finely waved 
and slightly curved. The hind-wings are pale ochreous with two 
blackish discal dots. The cilia of all the wings are pale reddish- 
ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March. 
It is found on the margins of forests and in certain local- 
ities is quite common. 
MECYNA ADVERSA. 
(Mecyna adversa, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix., 243.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 24 @.) 
This species, which is extremely closely allied to 
Mecyna notata, has occurred at Castle Hill, West Coast 
Road, and at Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about ~ inch. The fore- 
wings are of a deeper and richer red than in WM. notata and are 
also slightly broader with the termen less oblique; the white 
discal dot is much. less oblique, with its lower edge slightly 
directed outwards. The hind-wings are rather dark ochreous, 
with a blackish discal dot and a dusky brown basal shading. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February, 
and frequents the edges of beech forests. It is probably 
often mistaken by collectors for the last species. 
MECYNA FLAVIDALIS. 
(Margaritia flavidalis, Dbld., Dieff. N.Z. ii., 287; IM. quadralis, ib., 
288; Scopula dipsasalis, Walk., Cat. xviii., 796; Botys ota- 
galis, Feld., Reis. Nov., exxxiv., 35; Mnesictena flavidalis, 
Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1884, 330.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 27; fig. 28 variety.) 
This variable species is very common and generally 
distributed throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings ranges from # inch to 1 inch. 
The fore-wings, which are rather broad and triangular, vary 
from pale ochreous-brown to bright reddish-brown, varieties of 
every intermediate shade being met with; the first line is very 
faint; there is a vather pale broad, somewhat quadrangular spot 
just below the costa near the middle, preceded and followed by 
a dull brownish shading; the second line is dull brown, very nar- 
row and wavy; there is a terminal series of very slender black 
marks. The hind-wings vary from pale to dark ochreous; there 
are two black discal dots; a wavy sub-terminal line, a very broad 
terminal shading at the apex and a terminal series of fine elon- 
gate black marks. In many of the varieties the whole of the 
hind-wings is more or less spiinkled with black dots. 
A rather distinct variety (fig. 28), occurring on the 
Tararua Range, at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, has 
PYRALIDAE. 181 
the fore-wings very dull ochreous-brown, often much 
clouded with dark grey round the discal spot, the spot 
itself being sometimes very obscure; the other markings are 
almost obsolete, but the hind-wings have the apical shading 
considerably darker than usual. 
The larva, which feeds on Muhlenbeckia, is about 4 
inch in length, rather stout, flattened, much attenuated at 
each end; pale ochreous with two fine whitish lines down 
the back. 
The perfect insect may be met with on mild days 
almost the whole year through, but is most abundant dur- 
ing the late summer and autumn. It usually frequents the 
rank grass and other herbage which grows in damp situa- 
tions and may be often seen, feebly flying, in such places, 
late in the afternoon, even in the middle of the winter. 
This species ranges from the sea-level to altitudes of 3,000 
or 4,000 feet. 
MECYNA PANTHEROPA. 
(Mecyna pantheropa, Meyr., Trans., Ent. Soc. Lond., 1902, 277.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 29 g.) 
This very distinct species seems to be fairly common 
in the Chatham Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore- 
wings are orange-yellow; there is a large deep reddish-brown 
discal patch, its edges being continued to the dorsum as two 
rather indistinct wavy lines; there is a very distinct jagged 
second line, strongly looped inwards below the middle and a 
broad reddish-brown terminal band. The hind-wings are ochreous, 
darker towards the termen; there are three brown discal spots 
and a series of minute, black, terminal dots; the extreme apical 
and dorsal areas are speckled with brown dots. 
Mr. Meyrick states that this species is very variable; 
it is nearest to M. flavidalis, but always without the yellow 
quadrate spot in the middle of the dise of the fore-wings 
(always present in flavidalis), and also distinguished from 
both flavidalis and marmarina by the much longer palpi; 
readily separated from notata by the dark median band and 
terminal fascia. 
Described and figured from a somewhat damaged speci- 
men kindly forwarded by Miss Shand. 
MECYNA MARMARINA. 
(Mnesictena marmarina, Meyr., Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., 1884, 329. 
Mecyna marmarina, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1902, 
276.) 
(Plate XXTI., fig. 26 ¢.) 
This rather dull-looking insect is very common at 
Kaeo, north of Auckland, in the vicinity of Wellington, 
and seems to be generally distributed throughout the coun- 
try. It is also found in the Chatham Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings 
are broadly triangular, very dull ochreous speckled with blackish- 
brown, especially near the base and middle; there is a smail 
white spot below the costa at about 4, a clear white, round spot 
below the costa near the middle and an obscure wavy brown 
transverse line near the termen. The hind-wings are slightly 
paler than the fore-wings; there are two blackish spots above 

