184 XI—THE 
very distinct, pale grey, followed by a broad dark grey shading 
speckled with yellow; the orbicular is 8-shaped, outlined in grey- 
ish-black, sometimes indistinct; the second line is dark grey, 
curved near the costa and oblique towards the termen; there 
are three ill-defined dark patches on the terminal area, the most 
conspicuous one being near the apex. The hind-wings are pale 
grey, darker near the termen. 
Of this species Mr. Meyrick remarks “‘ that it is a 
neater and smoother-looking insect than Scoparia philerga 
and always recognisable by the well-marked yellowish 
tinge; moreover in S. philerga the orbicular is normally 
white edged with black, and the sub-terminal line is more 
broadly interrupted.’’ 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and principally frequents rock-facings and the stony sides 
of road cuttings, especially where mosses and lichens are 
abundant. It is also often found resting on fences and 
tree trunks. The moth, is common in most localities in the 
immediate vicinity of Wellington, and is very abundant in 
the neighbourhood of the Reservoir at Wainui-o-mata. The 
colouring of this insect closely approximates to that of its 
surroundings and resembles in general character that of 
Diptychophora elaina, Xanthorhoe cinerearia, and many 
other species which frequent similar situations. 
SCOPARIA CHLAMYDOTA. 
(Scoparia chlamydota, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 82.) 
(Plate) GDS ails 7A, 5) 
This species is rather rare in the Wellington District. 
In the South Island, it has occurred at Arthur’s Pass, 
Dunedin and Invereargill, and is common in the Routeburn 
Valley, near the head of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about inch. The fore-wings 
are warm brownish-ochreous; the basal third and a small tri- 
angular apical patch are black, finely sprinkled with grey; the 
outer edge of the basal patch is obliquely concave, extending from 
4 of costa to 4 of dorsum; there is a small ochreous-brown spot 
in basal patch near base; the Sub-terminal area is more or less 
clouded with warm brown, except near edge of basal patch; there 
is an irregular brownish terminal line. The hind-wings are 
greyish-ochreous, with a faint dusky sub-terminal line. 
Somewhat variable in depth of: colouring. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Febru- 
ary. It is found in forest to about 3,000 feet above sea- 
level, but is generally rare. It is, however, quite common 
in the Routeburn Valley, where it. frequents the groves of 
lace-bark trees (Gaya Lyall), which fringe the edges of 
the forest near the river. 
SCOPARIA TRICLHRA, 
(Scoparia triclera, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soe. Lond., 1905, 230.) 
(Plate XIX., fig. 27 9.) 
This species has been found near Wellington, but seems 
to be very rare. 
The expansion of the wings is 4 inch. It is very like S. 
chlamydota, from which it differs in its slightly smaller size, 
dark brown terminal and sub-terminal lines of fore-wings, and 
dark brown hind-wings. 
The perfect insect appears in December and is found 
in forest. 
PYRALIDAE. 
SCOPARIA HEMIPLACA. 
(Scoparia hemiplaca, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxi., 155.) 
1(Plate XXII., fig. 11 9.) 
This is a rare species and hitherto has only been found 
at Waimarino, Raurimu, in the neighbourhood of Welling- 
ton and at Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 2 inch. The fore-wings 
are very vich dark brown with faint purplish reflections; there 
is a large, irregularly oblong, cream-coloured blotch on the dor- 
sum extending from before the middle to the termen and reach- 
ing half-way across the wing; its basal portion is rounded and 
its upper edge slightly indented; it is margined with black and 
slightly sprinkled with brown scales towards the termen;: there 
is a small cream-coloured spot just below the apex; the reniform 
and second line are very, faintly indicated above the blotch and 
there is a fine, white, terminal line. The hind-wings are pale 
grey with a faint sub-terminal line and a dark shade on the 
termen. 
The larva feeds on moss during the winter months. 
The perfect insect appears in November, December, 
and January, and frequents forest, but is rarely met with. 
Its colouring is imitative of bird droppings, and the resem- 
blanee is very close when the insect is resting with closed 
wings. 
SCOPARIA DOCHMIA. 
(Scoparia dochmia, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1905, 229.) 
(Plate XXII, fig: 2 @-) 
This obscure-looking insect has occurred on the shores 
of Diamond Lake, near the head of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about 3 inch. The fore-wings 
are dull brownish-grey with a very faint purplish tinge; the first 
line is white moderately narrow, often indistinct; the orbicular 
and claviform are blackish and ill-defined; the reniform is y- 
shaped, somewhat indistinct; the second line is white, fairly 
broad, moderately curved, oblique, and very conspicuous; the 
terminal area is browner than the rest of the wing; the sub-ter- 
minal line is whitish, ill-defined and often interrupted in the — 
middle and at each end; there are several indistinct blackish 
dots on the termen near the tornus. The hind-wings are very 
pale greyish-ochreous with a narrow, darker grey terminal shad- 
ing. 
The perfect insect appears in February. It frequents 
the bushes of the Wild Irishman (Discaria toumatou), so 
numerous on the open grassy flats above Diamond Lake, 
and is very common. Most of the specimens seen are so 
much worn that they are quite unrecognisable, but fresh 
specimens, although without striking characters, may be at 
once known and are quite distinct from any of the many 
other species of the genus. 
SCOPARIA MINUSCULALIS. 
(Scoparia minusculalis, Walk., Cat., 34, 1508; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. 
UNSC; SVL oe.) 
' (Plate XXII, fig. 38 9.) 
This species seems to be generally distributed, though 
nowhere very common. It has occurred at Kaeo, in the far 
north, on the Tararua Range and at Wellington, Mount 
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