

248 XV.—THE 
It was first observed in 1901 and has certainly become much 
more plentiful in recent years than formerly. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is slightly under 1 
inch; of the female fully 1 inch. The fore-wings of the male 
are elongate-triangular with the costa moderately arched, the ter- 
men slightly oblique and the basal fold very short and narrow; 
dark greyish-brown with very strong bronzy-purple reflections; 
there is a pale golden-brown band beneath the fold; one or two 
cloudy black marks on the fold; a small black discal dot with a 
pale golden brown centre; a number of small blackish costal 
marks and an irregular series of blackish sub-terminal spots; all 
the black markings are margined with a golden brown shading. 
The hind-wings are pale bronzy-brown. The female has the wings 
slightly narrower than the male, very deep purplish-brown with 
golden reflections; there is no pale band on the fold but a white- 
centred bronzy-black discal dot and several series of elongate sub- 
terminal spots. The hind-wings are pale bronzy-grey. 
The perfect insect appears in November, February, 
March and April. It is more often found in houses, or at 
rest on fences in towns, than in the native forest, and hence 
may have semi-domestic habits. Mr. Meyrick states:—‘‘ I 
have two female specimens from Queensland which I refer 
with little doubt to this species; I suppose it*to be indigen- 
ous in Australia (and very likely in some of the Malayan 
Islands), and to have been recently introduced into New 
Zealand. It belongs to a group of several Indian and 
Malayan species, which are almost exactly alike in super- 
ficial appearance, but possess good characters for diserim- 
ination in the secondary sexual structures of the male— 
viz., the costal fold of the fore-wings, the folding and tuft- 
ing of the dorsal margin of hind-wings, and the presence 
of hairy tufts on the abdomen.’’ 
Genus 4.—CROCIDOSEMA, Zell. 
Differs from Hucosma in the possession in the male of an 
erect brush tuft of seales on the base of lower margin of cell 
(cubital vein) in hind-wings. 
A South American genus, represented by one species 
conveyed everywhere with garden plants. 
CROCIDOSEMA PLEBEIANA. 
(Hucosma plebeiana, Zell. Isis. 10, 721 (1847); Philp., Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. divs, 515) 
(Plate XLIX., fig. 10 @.) 
Specimens of this widely distributed species have been 
taken by Mr. Philpott at Nelson, who reports that it is now 
abundant in that locality. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 2 inch. The fore- 
wings are brownish-ochreous with a broad irregular oblique 
brownish-white median band connected with a very large oval 
patch above the tornus; the basal area is covered with scattered 
brown spots; there are numerous very fine darker costal strig- 
ulae; two minute pale marks before apex; two leaden metallic 
marks in the tornal patch as well as two minute horizontal black 
marks. The hind-wings are pale ochreous-brown with a ldrge 
tuft of long hair at the base of each. 
The larva feeds on mallows. 
The perfect insect appears from December till May. 
Described and figured from a specimen kindly given 
to me by Mr. Philpott. 
TORTRICIDAL, 
Genus 5.—BACTRA, Steph. 
Antennae in male ciliated. Palpi moderate or long, por- 
rected, second joint with projecting scales above and beneath, 
terminal short. Thorax without crest. Fore-wings with vein 7 
separate, to termen. Hind-wings with veins 3, 4, 5 closely 
approximated at base, 6 and 7 stalked. (Plate F., figs. 16, 17 
neuration of Bactra noteraula; fig. 18 head of ditto.) 
A rather considerable genus of wide distribution, of 
which the species are very similar and puzzling, and have 
been involved in much confusion. Some of the species, and 
very possibly all, are attached to various species of Juncus. 
There is often much variability, but the length of the palpi, 
form of fere-wings, and colour of hind-wings are important 
and reliable characters. There are four New Zealand spe- 
cies. 
BACTRA NOTERAULA. 
(Bactra noteraula, Wism. Faun. Haw., i, 689; Chiloides stram- 
Noter- 
inea, Meyr. (nec. Butl.) Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvii., 142; 
aula straminea, Meyr. ib. xxiv., 217.) 
(Plate eeOay Ee ea) 
This species has occurred at Kaeo, north of Auckland, 
Hamilton, Taupo, Taranaki, Wanganui, Otaki and Waira- 
rapa. It is probably generally distributed throughout the 
North Island. In the South Island it has occurred at Dune- 
din. 
The expansion of the wings varies from slightly under to 
slightly over 2 inch. The fore-wings are elongate, oblong, with 
the costa slightly arched, the apex pointed and the termen 
oblique; light ochreous with all the veins marked with fine black 
or brownish lines, the spaces between being also marked with 
dotted brownish lines; there is a larger dark brown dot beyond 
the middle and a Series of blackish-brown dots on the dorsum; 
the cilia are pale ochreous. The hind-wings are grey with the 
cilia white. 
The perfect insect appears from January to March. 
It is stated to be common amongst rushes (Juncus) im 
swampy ground, but seems to be somewhat loeal. 
This species was originally wrongly identified as Chi- 
loides straminea, Butl. The last-named insect has since 
proved to be only a form of the wide-spread Bactra lanceo- 
lana, Hiibn. It has therefore no connection with the 
species here described. 
BACTRA OPTANIAS. 
(Bactra optanias, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliii., 89.) 
(Plate XLYV., fig. 30 9.) 
This species was discovered by Mr. Meyrick at Ham- 
ilton. 
The expansion of the wings is 8 inch. The fore-wings are 
rather elongate with the termen oblique; pale ochreous clouded 
with grey along the dorsum and below the apex; there are many 
very fine black strigulae on the costa and a number of short 
thick black marks on the terminal area; a bright ochreous patch 
is situated near the tornus containing several thick black marks; 
the cilia are greyish-ochreous. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, 
narrowly clouded with brownish-grey towards the margins. 

