




XNV—THE 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under $ inch. The 
fore-wings have the costa rather strongly arched, the termen 
straight and slightly oblique; very deep purplish-grey with glossy 
black markings; there are several minute marks near the base; 
a narrow angulated transverse line from 4 of the costa almost 
reaching to the dorsum; an irregular patch on the costa near the 
middle emitting a wavy line towards the dorsum; this is followed 
by a broken narrow curved line from the costa at 3 to the tornus; 
there is another broader bent line near the apex and several 
minute spots at the apex; a row of black dots is placed on the 
dorsum and the edges of most of the black markings are more 
or less sprinkled with golden yellow scales. The hind-wings are 
dark brown clouded with black towards the termen. The female 
has the wings slightly narrower than the male. ‘ 
This insect has some superficial resemblance to Eccli- 
tica hemiclista, but may be easily distinguished by its 
smaller size and short antennal ciliations. 
The habits of the larva are very remarkable 
and quite unlike those of most of the family. 
It feeds on moss and constructs an clongate cylin- 
drical case of fragments of moss joined together 
with silk. The length of the case of the mature 
larva is about # inch. It is quite distinct from the much 
smaller elliptical or oval moss cases constructed by larvae 
of the genus Mallobathra, but closely resembles in shape a 
miniature case of Oecelicus ommvorus. The length of the 
enclosed larva is about 4 inch. It is rather elongate, cylin- 
drical, with the segments moderately-deeply excised; the 
head and dorsal plate of the first segment are jet black, 
horny and very highly polished; the rest of the body is 
rather pale green, darker towards the middle, with several 
rows of large rather obscure paler green warts, each of 
which emits a short bristle; additional bristles are also 
present on the head, second and last segments. This larva 
feeds during the winter and early spring on the dripping 
moss growing on rock faces, or on tree trunks, in the depths 
of the forest. The case is sometimes held erect, whilst at 
other times it is simply dragged through the moss. It is 
extremely inconspicuous, and affords a most efficient refuge 
for the larva. Whilst walking, the larva projects its head 
and four or five segments from the case, but darts back- 
wards with lightning rapidity on the approach of danger. 
These cases are very difficult to find by searching, but are 
best obtained by shaking the pendant moss into an 
umbrella. They are, however, rare and none are found con- 
taining larvae after the middle of November. By the end 
of October, or a little later, the larva is full-grown. The 
case is then shortened to about one-half of its former length, 
and both the apertures are closed up, the inmate having 
previously attached one of the ends to a piece of moss. 
The perfect insect appears at the end of November or 
beginning of December, and frequents forest. Owing to its 
small size and inconspicuous appearance it is very seldom 
observed on the wing and specimens are thus best obtained 
in the larval condition. It flies with considerable activity 
in hot sunshine. 
TORTRICIDAE. 
TORTRIX ANTICHROA, 
(Tortriz antichroa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., li., 351.) 
(Plate XDVIL, fests.) 
This very striking species has occurred on Mount 
Egmont at an elevation of about 4,000 feet above the sea- 
level. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 3 inch. The thorax 
and basal area of the fore-wings are bright ochreous, the ochre- 
ous colouring extending to about 4 on the costa and 4 on the 
dorsum; the rest of the fore-wings is dark greyish-brown heavily 
dappled with bright reddish-brown especially towards the dise; 
the cilia are bright reddish-brown. The hind-wings are dull 
brown, darker towards the termen; the cilia are also brown. The 
head and abdomen are dull brown. 
The perfect insect appears in February, and frequents 
sub-alpine serub. 
TORTRIX ZESTODBES. . 
(Tortrix zestodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lv., 203.) 
(Plate L., fig. 20 9.) 
This brightly-coloured species was discovered by Stella 
Hudson at Flora camp, near Mount Arthur, at an elevation 
of 2,700 feet above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is 4 inch. The fore-wings are 
oblong with the costa moderately arched at the base and the ter- 
men almost straight; very deep rich reddish-brown, the basal area 
is irregularly clouded with ochreous-yellow; there is a broad, 
very oblique transverse band of bright ochreous-yellow from % 
of costa to beyond 4 of dorsum and another patch of the same 
colour placed obliquely on the costa beyond the middle; the cilia 
are deep brown with bright yellow tips below the apex. The 
hind-wings and cilia are dark brown. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and may be 
looked for amongst sub-alpine scrub. 
TORTRIX SCRUPOSA. 
(Tortrix scruposa, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lv., 
(Plate L., fig. 4 @.) 
This pretty species was discovered by Mr. C. C. Fen- 
wick at Whakapapa on the lower slopes of Mount Ruapehu, 
at an altitude of about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over ? inch. The 
fore-wings are elongate-oblong with the termen rather oblique; 
white, very slightly tinged with bluish, with numerous blackish 
markings and with scattered grey scales on the discal and apical 
areas; there are two curved transverse rows of spots on the basal 
area with the discal spot in each much larger; a curved row of 
much smaller spots beyond this; «a large, very oblique, irregular 
blotch from near middle of costa to near tornus; a somewhat 
rectangular tornal blotch almost joining this; five oblique costal 
stripes between middle and apex, the third and fourth uniting 
and running to termen just before tornus. The hind-wings, which 
have the apex considerably produced, are very pale grey. The 
cilia of all the wings are grey. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and may be 
looked for amongst sub-alpine scrub. 
TORTRIX INUSITATA. 
(Tortrix inusitata, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., li., 225.) 
(Plate XLVIII., fig. 28 9.) 
This species was discovered by Mr. C. E. Clarke at 
Waitati near Dunedin. 

