
XI.—THE 
the hundred and four known New Zealand species, five are 
confined to the North Island; fifty-two to the South Island 
and forty-seven common to both islands. The larvae mostly 
feed on mosses and lichens, but sometimes on the roots of 
other plants, and possibly many of the New Zea- 
land species feed on the roots of grass, their 
habits being similar to those of Crambus. The 
ereater number of the New Zealand species are considerably 
larger and more diversified in appearance than those of 
other regions; these types are most nearly approached by 
the few species known from the colder parts of South 
America, whence others will doubtless be discovered. 
The species are quite as varied as numerous. <A few 
are dull-coloured inconspicuous-looking insects whilst many 
are extremely beautiful. It is essential that all specimens 
of Scoparia intended for study be in the finest possible 
condition, as in many of the species there is‘an under layer 
of neutral tinted scales which, when exposed to view by 
the removal of the surface scales, completely alters the gen- 
eral appearance of the insect. Unreliable work will there- 
fore inevitably result from descriptions based on indifferent 
specimens. 
SCOPARIA THYRIDIAS. 
(Scoparia thyridias, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1905, 229.) 
(Plate XXII., fig. 36 9.) 
This interesting species has occurred at Waimarino, 
Karori and Wainuiomata, near Wellington; Mount Arthur, 
the Otira Gorge, in the Routeburn Valley, near the head 
of Lake Wakatipu, and on The Hump, Southland. 
The expansion of the wings is about 3 inch. The fore-wings 
are dark brownish-black, with dull white markings; the first line 
is white, moderately broad and. distinct; the orbicular and reni- 
form are orange yellow, dark margined,; there is an oblong semi- 
transparent patch between them, plain in the male but obscure 
in the female; the second line is narrow, strongly curved and 
slightly oblique; the sub-terminal line is indistinct and much 
interrupted. The hind-wings are very pale grey, darker towards 
the termen. 
This species varies considerably in the extent of the 
dark and light colouring, some specimens are very pale, the 
darker colouring being more or less speckled with white. 
The specimens I have from the North Island are much 
darker and browner with the lines narrower, and may 
possibly prove to belong to a distinct species. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February, 
and frequents forest but seems to be extremely local. It is 
fairly common in the Routeburn Valley at elevations of 
from 2,500 to 3,000 feet. Mr. Meyrick remarks that this 
species ‘‘ is distinguished from all other New Zealand spe- 
cies by the naked discal patch (possibly not developed in 
the female); a similar structure is found in certain 
Hawaiian species, but I think it improbable that they are 
nearly allied specifically, and regard the character as hav- 
ing been developed independently in each case.’’ 
PYRALIDAE. 1 
oe) 
Co 
SCOPARIA OREAS, 
(Scoparia oreas, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 81.) 
A single specimen of this species was captured by Mr. 
Meyrick, near Lake Wakatipu, at an elevation of 5,000 feet 
above the sea-level. 
It is closely allied to 8. philerga, but stated to be dis- 
tinguished from that species by the longer and narrower 
fore-wings, whitish hind-wings; pubescence and longer cili- 
ations of the antennae. 
The perfect insect appears in December. 
IT am unacquainted with this species. 
taken from the original description. 
The above is 
SCOPARIA PHILERGA. 
(Scoparia philerga, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii. 81.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 12 9.) 
This species is fairly common and generally distributed 
throughout the country, and has been found in the Chat- 
ham Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is a little over # inch. The 
fore-wings are rather narrow, dull white, speckled and obscurely 
marked with black. There is a short thick black streak at the 
base, the first line is white, obscurely margined with black to- 
wards the termen; the orbicular and claviform form an obscure 
black patch; the reniform is 8-Shaped white margined with black 
and touching a small black mark on the costa; the second line 
is white, distinct, edged with black, the terminal space is black 
except the sub-terminal line, which is frequently broken and 
often touches the second line near the middle; there is a terminal 
row of white dots. The hind-wings are pale yellowish-white 
strongly shaded with grey towards the termen. The cilia of all 
the wings are dull white with a darker line. 
The larva, which feeds in moss during the winter and 
early spring, is about $ inch in length, elongate, rather 
slender with the head reddish-brown and the body dull 
ereyish-green. The second segment has a large horny 
ereenish-black dorsal plate; the third and fourth segments 
each have a row of small shining greenish-black plates; the 
other segments, except the last, have two large and two 
small dorsal plates and three lateral plates, each of which 
emit fine black bristles. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and usually frequents forest. When resting on tree trunks, 
or rocks, its colouring is extremely protective. It is some- 
times found on mountains at elevations not exceeding about 
4,000 feet. 
SCOPARIA MELITURGA. 
(Scoparia meliturga, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1905, 228.) 
(Plate XXII. fig. 12 @.) 
This is another obscurely marked species and although 
allied to Scoparia philerga is quite distinct from that insect. 
It has been taken commonly at Auckland, Wanganui, and 
Wellineton, and is probably generally distributed through- 
out the North Island. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over § inch. The 
fore-wings are pale yellowish-grey; the first line is doubly curved, 
a 

