

194 
followed by a distinct, darker shading; the orbicular is obscure; 
the reniform distinct, 8-shaped and placed obliquely on the wing; 
the second line is pale, strongly curved, followed by a very con- 
spicuous dark patch at the tornus, a much fainter patch on the 
middle of the termen and a very small, obscure patch at the 
apex; there is a series of obscure blackish terminal dots. The 
hind-wings are very pale greyish-ochreous with a broad, dark 
grey, terminal shading. 
Slight variation exists in the intensity of the markings. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Febru- 
ary. It is usually found at rest on rocks, fences, or tree- 
trunks and its general colouring is highly protective in 
such situations. The rapid decrease in the numbers of this 
insect, during comparatively recent years, is no doubt due 
to the extension of settlement and some of the introduced 
birds may, perhaps, be the primary cause of its destruction. 
SCOPARIA BISINUALIS, n. sp. 
(Plate XXI., fig. 45 9.) 
This rather scarce species has occurred at Ohakune, on 
the lower slopes of Mount Holdsworth, Tararua Range, at 
Wellington and at Ashburton. 
The expansion of the wings is about 3 inch. The fore-wings 
are pale bluish-grey, faintly speckled with black; there is a nar- 
row, doubly waved, longitudinal black streak starting near the 
costa at about 4 and reaching the termen considerably below the 
apex; the reniform appears as a rounded notch beneath the mid- 
dle of this line; there are several wedge-shaped blackish marks 
on the termen; the cilia are ochreous-grey, barred with blackish. 
The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous, darker towards the apex; 
there is a very faint cloudy sub-terminal line; the cilia are 
ochreous with a greyish line. 
Varies considerably in depth of colouring and in the 
extent of the blackish speckling on fore-wings. 
known by the characteristic longitudinal black streak of 
fore-wings. 
The larva feeds on mosses. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Feb- 
ruary. 
For very many years this species was incorrectly iden- 
tified as Scoparia harpalea. 
SCOPARIA CHALICODES. 
(Scoparia chalicodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 98; Scoparia 
ciserodes, Meyr., ib., lii., 30.) 
(Plate XXII. fig. 138 9.) 
This small grey species has occurred at Wanganui, 
Napier, Christchurch, Mount Hutt and Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about ? inch. The fore-wings 
are, elongate, grey, with numerous interrupted longitudinal black 
streaks, a heavier and longer streak being situated on the ter- 
men below the apex. The hind-wings are very pale whitish- 
ochreous, faintly clouded with grey at the apex and with obscure 
cloudy grey terminal and sub-terminal lines. 
Appears to be variable, as in the original deseription 
both first and second lines and stigmata are mentioned as 
obseurely indicated, but they are absent in the specimen 
in the Fereday collection, from which the figure and des- 
eription given in this work were prepared. 
The perfect insect appears from January till March. 
Easily 
XI—THE PYRALIDAE. 
SCOPARIA PSAMMITTIS. 
(Scoparia psamnvittis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 99.) 
(Plate XXIV; fist bl) 47) 
This very obseure-looking species has been taken at 
Auckland, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Holdsworth, Mount 
Arthur (4,000 feet), Arthur’s Pass (4,500 feet), Dunedin, 
Invereargill and at the head of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is. slightly under ~ inch. The 
fore-wings are very narrow, pale grey, with blackish-grey mark- 
ings; the first line is rather broad, ill-defined, and very oblique; 
the claviform generally very distinct black, not pale centred; 
the orbicular and reniform are darki grey, pale centred; the sec- 
ond line is wavy, oblique, whitish-edged with grey and marked 
with dark grey dots where it crosses the veins; the sub-terminal 
line is very broad, ill-defined, dark grey, interrupted in the mid- 
dle; there is a terminal series of blackish dots. The hind-wings 
are ochreous-grey with obscure darker grey lunule, sub-terminal 
line and terminal shading. 
Some specimens of this insect are more ochreous-tinged 
than others and the claviform spot varies considerably in 
intensity. 
The perfect insect appears from September till April. 
SCOPARIA LEPTALEA. 
(Scoparia leptalea, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 98; Scoparia 
leptophaea, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1902, 277.) 
This species has occurred at Hamilton, Napier, Mas- 
terton, Wellington and Christchurch, and is probably fairly 
common and generally distributed throughout the country. 
It has also occurred on the Chatham Islands. It very 
closely resembles Scoparia psamnuttis, from which it dif- 
fers in its smaller size, stouter antennae of the male with 
shorter antennal ciliations and less conspicuous elaviform 
spot. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
frequenting dry grassy places, and is often taken at light. 
SCOPARIA FIMBRIATA. 
(Scoparia fimbriata, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix., 243.) 
(Plate XLY., fig. 3 @.) 
This remarkable species was discovered by Mr. Phil- 
pott on Mount Cleughearn, Hunter Mountains, at an eleva- 
tion of about 3,000 feet above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over ? inch. The 
antennae of the male are moderately bipectinated. The fore- 
wings are reddish-brown, much paler on the central area and to- 
wards the tornus; the first line is broad, slightly curved, deep 
reddish-brown on the costa, becoming blackish before the middle; 
the second line is fine, blackish, strongly outwards bowed near 
the middle and acutely dentate below the middle; there is an 
8-shaped discal dot marked in blackish- and reddish-brown. The 
hind-wings are pale ochreous, i 
The perfect insect appears in December and frequents 
sub-alpine forests. It has a striking superficial resemblance 
to Scoparia epicomia, but may be at once recognised by the 
antennal pectinations in the male. 
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Phil- 
pott’s collection, 

