
AIJ—THE PYRALIDAE. #99 
In a small open space in the Titiroa Forest (Hunter 
Mountains), at an elevation of about 2,700 feet, an isolated 
colony of this moth was found to have established itself. 
It is most unusual to find this species in the heart of the 
forest, and no individuals were noticed on the track either 
above or below. All the specimens obtained were slightly 
darker than the ordinary open-country form, the fore-wings 
having a greater admixture of brownish-ochreous and the 
black stripes being very pronounced. The locality is on the 
bank of a mountain stream, and it is suggested that isola- 
tion in this damp spot is producing a melanie variety.* 
SCOPARIA AUGASTIS. 
(Scoparia augastis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxix. 112.) 
(Plate XXIV, fig. 8 9.) 
This rather striking species has occurred at Dunedin 
and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is 13 inches. The fore-wings 
are very narrow, becoming gradually dilated, with the termen 
rather oblique and the costa slightly arched before the apex; 
pale brownish-ochreous and very glossy with the middle portions 
of the wing and the spaces between the veins more or less 
speckled with dull white; the cilia are dull white. with two pale 
brown lines. The hind-wings are very pale ochreous and very 
glossy with long hairs in the cell; the cilia are white with a 
very faint grey band near the edge of the wing. 
The perfect insect appears from February till April, 
and frequents swampy localities. It was discovered by Mr. 
Philpott frequenting the flowers of the ragwort (Senecio 
jacobaea) after dark. 
SCOPARIA PETRINA. 
(Xeroscopa petrina, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii, 111.) 
(Plate XXI., figs. 11 and 22 varieties.) 
This large and conspicuous species has occurred at 
Mount Arthur (4,000 feet), Christchurch, Castle Hill, Bea- 
ley River and Lake Guyon. It is generally distributed in 
the far south. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are white, more or less thickly sprinkled with grey or 
greyish-brown scales; there is often a dark brown bar on the 
costa at the base; the first line is rather wavy, strongly curved 
outwards from costa to dorsum, broad, white, broadly edged with 
greyish-brown; the orbicular is elliptical dark-margined, usually 
filled with yellowish-brown; the claviform is small, yellowish- 
brown, not pale centred; the reniform very large, very irregularly 
8-shaped, filled in half with yellowish-brown and half with white; 
the second line is jagged, with a strong indentation below the 
costa, broad, white edged with dark grey; there is usually a 
very irregular brown band on the terminal area containing black 
dashes on the veins and a terminal series of black dots. The 
hind-wings are clear pale ochreous, sometimes slightly tinged 
with brown on the apex and termen. 
This insect is very variable, some specimens having the 
fore-wings almost uniform grey with very faint markings 
and a cloudy darker shading along the costa. Its very 
large size, the peculiar form of the discal spots, and the 


*Trans: N.Z. Inst., xlix., 222. 
clear pale ochreous hind-wings are, however, good distine- 
tive characters. 
The perfect insect appears in January, flying freely 
amongst the tussock in open situations, usually on the 
mountain sides. It is not, however, by any means a com- 
mon species. Mr. Philpott states that in the far south 
specimens may be met with throughout the year. 
SCOPARIA HALOPIS. 
(Scoparia halopis, Meyr., Sub-antarctic Islands of New 
Zealand, 72.) 
(Plate XXIV., fig. 50 ¢.) 
This rather obscure species was discovered at Auck- 
land and Enderby Islands during the scientific expedition 
of November, 1907. It has also been taken by Mr. Philpott 
at Tuturau, near Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings 
are elongate and narrow, white, sparsely sprinkled with pale 
brown and a few Oblackish-brown scales; the markings are 
brown; the first line is very indistinct; the orbicular is elongate 
oval; the reniform kidney-shaped rather indefinite; the second 
line is represented by a succession of breaks in the dark brown- 
ish-black dashes which mark all the veins towards the termen; 
the ends of the veins are marked by a series of terminal dots. 
The hind-wings are pale ochreous, darker towards the apex and 
termen. 
“é 
Mr. Meyrick points out that this species ‘‘ is closely 
related to Scoparia petrina, but distinguishable by the 
rather shorter and broader fore-wings, whiter colouring, 
obsolescence of the orbicular and elaviform, absence of 
bars in cilia and other small differences.’’ 
The perfect insect was taken at the end of November. 
It occurred on the edges of the forest at Norman’s Inlet, 
Auckland Island, and on open country on Enderby Isiand. 
Mr. Philpott found it in February amongst scattered bush. 
SCOPARIA CYAMEUTA. 
(Xeroscopa cyameuta, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 112.) 
(Plate XXI., fig, 54 9.) 
This large species has occurred at Mount Egmont, 
Ohakune, Wellington, Mount Arthur, Arthur’s Pass, Bea- 
ley River, Mount Hutt, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu, and is 
common and generally distributed in the Invercargill dis- 
trict. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are elongate, dull white, with dark blackish-brown mark- 
ings; there is a short, rather cloudy, longitudinal streak at the 
base, two very cloudy marks, one before and one beyond middle, 
usually with a distinct somewhat oval mark between them; the 
first line is very obscure, often wanting; the second line is wavy, 
oblique, and very conspicuous; beyond the second line the veins 
are usually marked in brown, the cilia are dull white, tipped 
with brown and often barred with pale brown towards the base. 
The hind-wings are pale ochreous without markings. 
This species varies much in the extent and depth of 
the blackish-brown markings. Some pale specimens ap- 
proach S. astragalota. 

