















































198 NXI.—THE 
Superficially, this species closely resembles some of the 
paler varieties of Scoparia sabulosella, from which it differs 
in its slightly larger size and in the absence of any definite 
markings on the fore-wings, except the diseal dot. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and frequents 
open grassy country on the mountain sides. 
SCOPARIA SABULOSELLA. 
(Crambus sabulosellus, Walk., Cat., xxvii., 178; Scoparia sabulo- 
sella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 106.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 38 @.) 
This obseure-looking species is extremely common and 
generally distributed throughout the country. It has also 
been found on the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, and 
on Enderby Island in the Auckland Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is ~ inch. The fore-wings are 
pale ochreous, paler on the costa, occasionally clouded with 
darker brown longitudinally near the middle of the wing; there 
are a few dark brown specks mear the base; the orbicular is 
minute blackish-brown; the reniform almost square, small, also 
blackish brown; the two spots are sometimes connected by a 
cloudy streak; the veins are sometimes clouded with blackish- 
brown, especially in the female; there is a row of distinct black 
dots on the termen. The hind-wings are very pale ochreous. 
This species is rather variable, some specimens being 
much darker than others. It may, however, always be 
known by the pale ochreous ground colour and two distinct 
blackish dots on the fore-wings. 
The larva feeds in moss during the winter months. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and is often very common in dry grassy localities. It is 
frequently abundant in fields and meadows in the midst 
of cultivation. This species is stated to occur in Chili. 
SCOPARIA PANOPLA. 
(Scoparia panopla, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 107.) 
(Plate XXL. fig. 48 @.) 
This large and very distinetly-marked species has 
occurred at Mount Hutt and on the Hunter Mountains at 
an elevation of about 4,500 feet. 
The expansion of the wings is 1} inches. The fore-wings 
are elongate-triangular with the termen slightly oblique, very 
pale brownish-ochreous with a broad white streak on the costa; 
there is a rather slender black central streak from the base to 
beyond 4; another black streak above it from 4 to % slightly 
hooked at its termination; three cloudy blackish marks on the 
veins below the apex and two or three much less distinct marks 
near the tornus; all these black markings are margined with 
pale reddish-brown; there is a series of very distinct terminal 
dots. The hind-wings are very pale whitish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect ‘appears in January. 
Described and figured from a specimen in the Fereday 
collection. 
SCOPARIA CLAVATA. 
(Scoparia clavata, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliv., 116.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 40 9.) 
This very distinct species was discovered by Mr. Phil- 
pott on the Hump Ridge, Southland, at an elevation of 


PYRALIDAE,. 
3,000 feet above the sea-level. It has also occurred on the 
Hunter Mountains. 
The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are 
white with the veins very faintly marked in pale ochreous-brown; 
there is a thick black stripe from the base to slightly beyond 4; 
another above this, on the middle third of the disc, terminating 
in an irregular reniform spot; a broad, curved sub-terminal band 
jrom the apex, almost reaching the dorsum, much narrower near 
the middle; all these markings are narrowly edged with pale 
brownish-ochreous; there is a series of black terminal dots. The 
hind-wings are pale greyish-ochreous with faint terminal and sub- 
terminal bands and lunule. 
The perfect insect appears in December’ and frequents 
sub-alpine forest. 
Described and figured from the type specimen kindly 
lent to me by Mr. Philpott. Another specimen taken by 
Mr. Philpott on the Hunter Mountains differs considerably 
from the type. The fore-wings are ochreous-brown and the 
terminal fascia is broadly interrupted at middle. The hind- 
wings are also ochreous-tinged. 
SCOPARIA TRIVIRGATA. 
(Crambus trivirgatus, Feld., Reis. Nov., pl. exxxvii., 29; Scopariu 
trivirgata, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvii., 107.) 
(Plate XXI., fig. 42 @.) 
This very distinetly marked species has occurred on 
Mount Egmont, Mount Ruapehu (4,500 feet), Wellington, 
Mount Arthur (3,500 feet), Christchurch, Otira River, 
Mount Cook, Lake Wakatipu and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings varies from inch to slightly 
over 1 inch. The fore-wings are narrow, elongate, pale ochreous, 
with the termen oblique; there is a longitudinal black streak in 
the middle from. the base to about 4; a second longitudinal streak 
slightly above the middle from 4 to the apex, almost starting 
from the end of the first streak, and a third streak from about 
4 to the tornus, considerably below the other two. The hind- 
wings are very palo ochreous. 
This species varies very much in size, also in the depth 
of the ground colour of both the fore- and hind-wings, and 
in the length of the longitudinal streak near the tornus. 
A rather distinct, large pale variety, is found at Lake Har- 
ris, a small mountain lake between the head of Lake Waka- 
tipu and the West Coast. This variety has the fore- and 
hind-wings almost white, the black streaks being bordered 
with pale brownish-ochreous. A very dark variety with 
slaty-grey fore-wings and pale grey hind-wings also occurs 
on Mount Ruapehu. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and is often locally abundant. Although found at lower 
levels, it is chiefly a mountain species, usually frequenting 
open grassy places between 3,000 and 4,000 feet. Southern 
and mountain specimens seem to be generally paler in 
colour and larger than specimens from lower levels or more 
northern localities. 
Mr. Philpott remarks that the female of this species 
is often very small, measuring as little as three-fifths of an 
inch in wing-expanse, while the male reaches 1 inch. These 
small females have very poor powers of flight. 


