







252 XVIL—THE 
tation, structure, habits and metamorphoses, probably the 
most interesting section of the Lepidoptera. In some of 
the species, which have diurnal habits, the colouring is as 
georgeous as that of tropical butterflies, whilst many of the 
nocturnal or crepuscular species are extremely beautiful in 
their wing patterns. The elongate antennae, legs and cilia 
of so many of the species, often variously coloured, also 
add a singular grace to these attractive little insects. 
Notwithstanding their manifold charms these ‘‘ Hum- 
ming Birds ’’ of the Lepidoptera have received but scant 
attention from many naturalists, but it is hoped that the 
enlarged coloured figures, descriptions, and life-histories 
here given will show that these little insects are really 
more attractive objects for study than many of their larger 
relatives. 
The Tineidae are represented in New Zealand by the 
sixteen following sub-families :— 
. GELECHIADES 
DIPLOSARIDES 
OECOPHORIDES 
. XYLORYCTIDES 
. COPROMORPHIDES 
HELIODINIDES 
COSMOPTERYGIDES 
GLYPHIPTERYGIDES 
. ELACHISTIDES 
. SCYTHRIDES 
. HYPONOMEUTIDES. 
2. GRACILARIADES 
. PLUTELLIDES 
. LYONETIADES 
. TINEIDES 
. NEPTICULIDES. 
PART Pwr 
Sub-family 1.—GELECHIADES. 
Head with appressed scales. Labial palpi long, recurved, 
pointed, usually acute. Maxillary palpi very short, appressed. 
Fore-wings with 2 usually from near angle, 7 and 8 stalked, 7 
to costa. Hind-wings more or less trapezoidal, termen sinuate 
or emarginate; 6 and 7 usually approximated or stalked. ~(Plate 
F., figs. 25-30.) 
An immense sub-family, abundant in all the main 
regions, but less prominent in Australia, and only scantily 
represented in New Zealand. The species are often incon- 
spicuous and of retired habits, but are undoubtedly really 
searee here. 
Ten genera occur in New Zealand. 
. APATETRIS 
. MEGACRASPEDUS 
. ARISTOTELIA 
. EPITHECTIS 
. STOMOPTERYX 
. THIOTRICHA 
. PHTHORIMAEHA 
. GHLECHIA 
. ANISOPLACA 
. SITOTROGA. 
Genus 1—APATETRIS, Staud. 
Basal joint of antennae with pecten. Labial palpi with 
seales of second joint rough beneath towards apex, terminal joint 
much shorter, roughened anteriorly. Hind-wings under 1, ter- 
men abruptly emarginate beneath acutely produced apex; 3 and 
4 rather approximated, 5 nearly parallel, 6 and 7 rather approxi- 
mated towards base. 
A genus of some extent in Australia, and occurring 
also in the Indian and African regions, but easily over- 
looked. ~ 
Represented in New Zealand by one species. 
TINEIDAE. 
APATETRIS MELANOMBRA. 
(Epiphthora melanombra, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx. 77; Gele- 
chia sparsa, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1., 128.) 
(Plate XXXVIII., fig. 3 4.) 
This very distinet species was discovered by Fereday 
at Christchurch, who bred specimens from mined leaves of 
Olearia avicenniaefolia. It is probably common and gener- 
ally distributed throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings is about 4 inch. The fore- 
wings, head and thorax are pale whitish-grey, very densely sprin- 
kled with black scales; there is a large oblique black suffusion 
on the dorsum near the middle, another, much smaller, before 
the tornus, and a very indistinct darker blotch in disc before 
apex. The hind-wings, which have the apex very abruptly pro- 
duced, are blackish-grey. 
Varies in depth of blackish suffusion and intensity of 
markings. A much paler form occurs in Dunedin, which 
was deseribed by Mr. Philpott as Gelechia sparsa. 
The life history has been very fully worked out by 
Mr. Morris N. Watt, from whose account the following 
particulars have been extracted.* 
The egg is flat, elongate oval, without sculpture, pale 
yellow in colour. It is laid singly and firmly attached to 
upper surface of leaf. The foodplants are various species 
of Olearia and Celmisia. 
The larva is about $ inch in length, cylindrical, she¢htly 
flattened, abdominal segments gradually tapering; the head 
is blackish, the prothorax with black dorsal shield; abdom- 
inal segments full and rounded; true legs and prolegs 
absent, being replaced by protrusible fleshy swellings; col- 
our grey with darker mid-dorsal stripe. It mines the leaves 
of the foodplant. 
The pupa is enclosed in an oval cocoon of white silk 
constructed within the blotch-mine. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and there are probably two or three complete generations 
in the year. 
Genus 2.—MEGACRASPEDUS, Zell. 
Basal joint of antennae without pecten. Labial palpi with 
second joint tufted towards apex beneath, terminal joint as long 
as second. Hind-wings with termen emarginate beneath pro- 
duced apex; 3 and 4 remote, 5 nearer 6, 6 and 7 remote. (Plate 
F., figs. 25, 26 and 27 neuration and head of Megacraspedus cdla- 
mogonda.) 
A genus of wide distribution, more developed in Aus- 
tralia than elsewhere. 
Only one species is known in New Zealand. 
MEGACRASPEDUS CALAMOGONA. 
(Megacraspedus calamogonus, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xviii., 
163.) 
(Plate SoC Viil pee Lomo) 
This species, which may be at once distinguished by 
its peculiarly tufted palpi, has oceurred at Waiouru in the 


*Trans. N.Z. Inst., lv., 331-336. 

