


256 XVII—THE 
The perfect insect appears in December. Mr. Philpott 
informs me that it is very abundant amongst low-growing 
vegetation, on sandhills near the sea-coast. 
PHTHORIMAEA MELANOPLINTHA. 
(Phthorimaea melanoplintha, Meyr., Exotic Microlepidoptera, 
ii., 276,) (19265))) 
(Plate XXVIIL., fig. 21 9.) 
This species was bred from a larva boring the stems of 
tomatoes in the Hawkes Bay district. 
The expansion of the wings is nine-sixteenths of an inch. 
The fore-wings, which have the apex acute, are pale ochreous, 
heavily sprinkled with blackish-brown scales, especially in the 
disc; the apical third is more or less suffused with reddish- 
brown; there is an indistinct darker basal patch; a very con- 
spicuous black blotch in dise before midlde, followed by a less 
distinct patch; the cilia are ochreous mixed with numerous 
blackish scales. The hind-wings, which have the apex much pro- 
duced, are pale greyish-ochreous, irrégularly sprinkled with 
darker grey, especially towards margins; the cilia are ochreous 
mixed with grey. 
The perfect insect appears in January. 
Described and figured from specimens submitted by 
the Department of Agriculture. 
PHTHORIMABA HBETEROSPORA. 
(Phthorimaea heterospora, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lv., 204.) 
(Plate iu.,) fie-! 12 645) 
This species has oceurred at Whakapapa, Mount Rua- 
pehu, at about 4,000 feet above sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is almost 4 inch. The fore- 
wings are rather narrow with the apex very -pointed; brownish- 
ochreous, broadly bordered with whitish on the dorsum; there 
is a central longitudinal black streak from the base to 4, with 
a small yellow spot below it; a black dot in the dise and a term- 
inal series of minute black dots. The hind-wings are rather 
broad, with the apex strongly produced, whitish-ochreous, All 
the cilia are whitish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and may be 
looked for in sub-alpine forests. 
PHTHORIMAEA GLAUCOTERMA. 
(Gelechia glaucotermad, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliii., 63.) 
(Plate XXVII-, fig. 197745) 
This rather heavily-marked species was discovered by 
Mr. Philpott at New River, Invercargill. It has also 
occurred near Christchurch. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is slightly over 
¥ inch; of the female about five-sixteenths of an inch; the fore- 
wings of the male are dark brownish-grey, with black and bluish- 
white markings; there is an obscure black mark at the base; 
two black dots placed obliquely on the fold and a large black 
spot beyond the middle; a patch of bluish-white scales is situ- 
ated near the base; an oblique bar on the costa at 4; an elongate 
patch in the middle of the dise and a large diffused patch occu- 
pies most of the apical area. The hind-wings are very pale 
brownish-ochreous, grey at the apex. The female has the wings 
much abbreviated and acutely pointed; the fore-wings are densely 
suffused with blackish scales, except on the costa near base, and 
on the median and terminal areas. 
TINEIDAE, 
The perfect insect appears from October till January 
and usually frequents open sandhills, on the sea coast. Mr. 
S. Lindsay, who found the insect at Bottle Lake, near 
Christchurch, informs me that the female appears ineap- 
able of true flight, but hops about with great. rapidity and 
is difficult to capture. 
Deseribed and figured from specimens kindly supplied 
by Messrs. Philpott and Lindsay. 
PHTHORIMAHA HIPPEIS. 
(Gelechia hippeis, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1901, 573.) 
(Plate XXVII., fig. 20.) 
This species has occurred at Christchurch. 
The expansion of the wings is #? inch. The head is pale 
ochreous and the thorax purplish-brown. The fore-wings are 
elongate, with the apex acute and the termen very oblique; 
ochreous, very densely covered with dark brown scales with 
purplish reflections; there is a distinct brown discal dot beyond 
the middle, but no other definite markings; the cilia are ochre- 
ous. The hind-wings are pale brownish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears in December, 
attracted by light. 
Described and figured from a specimen in the Fere- 
day collection. 
and is 
PHTHORIMAEA PLEMOCHOA. 
(Phthorimaea plemochoa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlviii., 415.) 
(Plate XXVIII., fig. 23 @, 24 9.) 
This interesting little species was discovered at Otira. 
The expansion of the wings is about 3 inch. The fore-wings 
of the male are dull white, broadly clouded and speckled with 
brownish-grey on the dorsum; there is generally an elongate 
brown patch on the costa before the apex. The hind-wings and 
the cilia of all the wings are grey. In the female all the wings 
are shorter and narrower than in the male; the fore-wings are 
pale brown with numerous white scales on the costa towards the 
base and in the dise beyond the middle. The abdomen in both 
sexes is almost black. 
This species varies considerably in size, and in the ex- 
tent of the white colouring, which sometimes covers almost 
the whole of the fore-wings. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
frequenting open grassy places, where it is locally very 
abundant. It flies with extraordinary activity from blade 
to blade of the grass, resting near the summit of each 
blade. It is very difficult to catch and escapes from the 
net or box with lightning rapidity. 
Genus 8.—GELECHIA, Hiibn. 
Basal joint of antennae without pecten. Labial palpi with 
second joint expanded, with rough projecting scales beneath, ter- 
minal joint as long as second or shorter. Hind-wings over 1, 
termen somewhat sinuate beneath apex; 3 and 4 connate, 5 rather 
approximated, 6 and 7 approximated at base or stalked, pos- 
teriorly diverging. (Plate F., figs. 28, 29, 30. Neuration and 
head of Gelechia monophragma.) 
A very large genus, principally characteristic of 
Europe, Africa, and America. 

