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XI—THE PYRALIDAEL. 
SCOPARIA ERGATIS. 
(Scoparia ergatis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii., 88.) 
(Plate XXII., fig. 28 @.) 
This species has occurred at various localities in the 
neighbourhood of Wellington and at Mount Arthur, Castle 
Hill, Otira River, Mount Cook, Humboldt Range, Lake 
Wakatipu and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under % inch. The 
fore-wings are dark brown, slightly bronzy, thickly speckled with 
grey, with clear dark brown markings; there is a very short 
oblique mark at the base; the first line is broad and slightly 
curved; the reniform is very small, oval and obscure; the second 
line is very broad at the costa and almost straight, edged with 
grey towards the termen,; the terminal area is uniformly dark 
brown. The hind-wings are dark brown, slightly bronzy, darker 
towards the termen. 
There is considerable variation in the depth of the 
general colouring and intensity of the markings. 
The perfect insect appears from October till January, 
and frequents dry rocky localities, flying very rapidly in 
hot sunshine. It is often found on mountains at elevations 
of about 3,000 feet, but is not confined to such situations. 
The colouring of the insect is protective when it is resting 
on rock surfaces. 
SCOPARIA AUTOCHROA. 
(Scoparia autochroa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxix., 110.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 16 9.) 
This distinct, though dull-coloured species, has 
occurred on the Humboldt Range, Lake Wakatipu, at ele- 
vations of from 4,500 to 5,000 feet. It has also been found 
at Invercargill near the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is rather less than 1 inch. The 
fore-wings are broad, dull brownish-grey and almost entirely 
destitute of markings. The hind-wings are dark greyish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February, 
and usually frequents rocky or grassy slopes on high moun- 
tains, but Mr. Philpott informs me that, in the vicinity of 
Invercargill, it is common in swamps, at the sea-level. Its 
colouring is very protective when resting on the ground, 
or on rock surfaces. 
SCOPARIA CINEFACTA. 
(Scoparia cinefacta, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvi., 391.) 
(Plate XLVIII., fiz. 7 2.) 
This very distinct species was discovered by Mr. Phil- 
pott, on Gordon’s Pyramid, Mount Arthur Range, at an 
altitude of about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is # inch. All the wings are 
dull slaty-grey; the fore-wings are slightly tinged with ochreous, 
the hind-wings more bluish; on the fore-wings the first line is 
invisible; the orbicular stigma very minute, round, blackish; the 
reniform stigma x-shaped, blackish, conspicuous; the second line 
is represented by a curved series of obscure dusky streaks; there 
is a series of very faint terminal dots. All the cilia are tinged 
with ochreous, 
In form and general appearance this species is most 
like Scoparia autochroa, but may be readily distinguished 
by its pronounced slaty-grey colour and peculiar reniform. 
The perfect insect appears in January. 
Described and figured from a specimen submitted by 
Mr. Philpott. 
SCOPARIA ENCAPNA. 
(Scoparia encapna, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx., 65.) 
(Plate XXII., fig. 6 9.) 
This rather striking-looking species has occurred on 
the Mount Arthur Tableland near Nelson at elevations of 
from 3,800 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It has also 
been found in the Routeburn Valley, at the head of Lake 
Wakatipu, on the McKinnon Pass near Lake Te Anau, at 
elevations of about 2,800 feet and at Invercargill near the 
sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is # inch. The head, thorax 
and fore-wings are very dark purplish-brown with coppery reflec- 
tions and a few scattered pale bluish-white scales; ithe basal 
area is more densely scattered with whitish scales, especially on 
the first line; the principal veins are irregularly marked in 
black; the orbicular and claviform are indistinct; the reniform 
is obscure, blackish, 8-shaped, followed by a large patch of 
whitish scales; the second line is somewhat interrupted, pale 
bluish-white, curved inwards near the dorsum; there is a rather 
broad irregular patch of pale bluish-white scales near the ter- 
men, representing the sub-terminal line. The hind-wings are 
dark brown, darker near the termen, with dull coppery reflec- 
tions. The cilia of all the wings are dark brown. The abdomen 
is dark brown. The legs are blackish-brown banded with, white. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Febru- 
ary, and seems to be very local, frequenting open brush- 
wood near the upper limit of the forest. It flies with great 
rapidity in the hottest sunshine. Its very dark coloration 
is probably due to the alpine habitat, but may also afford 
the insect efficient protection when resting, with closed 
wings, on blackened rocks. Mr. Philpott has taken it in 
open swamps near Invercargill. 
SCOPARIA LYCHNOPHANES. 
(Scoparia lychnophanes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvii., 697.) 
(Plates hit. us el 0 ou 
This very dark-looking, stoutly-built species was dis- 
covered on Mount Holdsworth, Tararua Range, at an alti- 
tude of about 4,000 feet. 
The expansion of the wings is almost { inch. The fore. 
wings are oblong, with the termen almost straight, and the tor- 
nus rounded; very dark brown, wiih obscure blackish markings; 
the transverse lines are very obscure indicated by a few scat- 
tered whitish scales; orbicular and claviform small, black; reni- 
form large, irregularly trapezoidal, dull yellow outlined in black- 
ish. The hind-wings are dark brown, slightly paler than the 
fore-wings. The cilia of all the wings are dull yellowish-brown. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and may be 
looked fou on the open country, above the bush line. 

