






272 XVIIT—THE 
The expansion of the wings varies from # inch to a little 
under 1 inch. The fore-wings, which have the termen very 
obliquely rounded, vary from dull grey to dull ochreous brown 
with darker brown markings; there is a Small spot on the costa 
at the base; a larger spot at 4, and another spot near the middle; 
a dark brown discal dot at 4, a second at 3, and a third obliquely 
beyond the first on the fold; there is a very obscure wavy trans- 
verse line from the costa at # to the tornus. The hind-wings 
are pale grey, darker towards the termen. 
There is considerable variation in the ground colour, 
some specimens being more or less clouded with dull red- 
dish-brown, or dark brown, and in these most of the mark- 
ings are indistinct. 
The larva is found in the dry earth underneath the 
roots of dead trees, where it constructs numerous tubes 
composed of silk and frass. It feeds on roots and other 
dry vegetable refuse. Its length when full-grown is 
slightly under 1 inch. The head and three succeeding seg- 
ments are very small, the posterior portion of the second 
segment being much constricted; the rest of the body rap- 
idly inereases in stoutness, abruptly tapering just before 
the posterior extremity. The head is bright yellowish- 
brown and very shining, the second, third and fourth seg- 
ments dull white with yellowish dorsal plates; the rest of 
the body is chocolate-brown with the lateral ridge and seg- 
mental divisions white. This larva, which is very sluggish, 
lives through the winter, pupation taking place in the early 
spring. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Feb- 
ruary, and is often very common about midsummer. It 
frequents forests. When pursued it usually falls to the 
eround, where it is very inconspicuous. It is very quick 
in secreting itself in crevices, a habit which no doubt 
enables it to escape from many enemies. 
LEPTOCROCA ASPHALTIS. 
(Borkhausenia asphaltis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliii., 65.) 
(Plate Xx xXExXs, fies it 34.) 
This very dull-coloured, obscure species was discov- 
ered by Mr. J. H. Lewis, probably in Central Otago. It 
has since occurred at Wellington and on Mount Aurum 
near Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is about # inch. The fore-wings 
are elongate with the apex obtuse iand the termen very oblique; 
grey, densely speckled with darker grey; there are three small 
discal dots, one on the fold, one just above this and one beyond 
the middle; there is also a fairly distinct dark grey sub-terminal 
line. The hind-wings are grey. 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen in Mr. Phil- 
pott’s collection. 
LEPTOCROCA VARIABILIS. 
(Leptocroca variabilis, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvi., 394. 
This species is stated to be distinguished by the plical 
spot not being placed obliquely beyond the first diseal, and 
differences in the structure of the genitalia. It was discoy- 
ered by Mr. Philpott, in forest districts around Nelson. 
TINEIDAE. 
LEPTOCROCA VACUA. 
(Leptocroca vacua, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvi., 393.) 
Stated to be distinguished from ZL. scholaea by its 
smaller size, greyish fore-wings, and structural differences 
in genitalia. It was discovered by Mr. Philpott at Nelson, 
and frequents forest. 
Genus 5.—CHERSADAULA, Meyr. 
Head loosely haired; ocelli posterior; tongue developed. 
Antennae 3, in @ evenly ciliated, basal joint moderate, without 
pecten. Labial palpi rather long, recurved, second joint thick- 
ened with iappressed scales, terminal joint about half second, 
slender, acute. Maxillary palpi very short, filiform. Posterior 
tibiae rough-sealed above. Fore-wings with vein 16 furcate, 2 
and 3 stalked from angle, 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to costa, 11 from 
middle; in @ half-aborted, pointed. Hind-wings in @ 1, elon- 
gate-ovate, cilia #; 3 and 4 connate, 5-7 nearly parallel; in 9 
half-aborted, very short, lanceolate. (Plate G., figs. 13, 14, 15. 
Neuration and head of Chersadaula ochrogastra @.) 
An interesting development of Borkhausenia. 
Only one species is known at present. 
CHERSADAULA OCHROGASTRA. 
(Chersadaula ochrogastra, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., liv., 165.) 
(Plate: SGU figs 12) 4 eo) 
This species is probably fairly common along the sea- 
coast near Wellington, but at present it has only been 
obtained in the larval condition. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is slightly over # 
inch, of the female barely 2 inch. The fore-wings of the male 
are elongate-oval with the apex and tornus rounded, very dull 
greenish-ochreous more or less strongly tinged with reddish, 
especially towards the margins; the markings are composed of 
rather scattered black scales and consist of an irregular patch on 
the fold near the base, another patch towards middle of the dor- 
sum, well-defined spots above and below the fold, a large round 
spot in the disc, a conspicuous tornal blotch, a sub-apical bar 
on costa and several indistinct marks along the termen, The 
hind-wings are greyish-ochreous clouded with blackish-grey to- 
wards the apex. The female, which is incapable of flight, has 
the fore-wings very acutely pointed towards the apex and the 
hind-wings trapezoidal and extremely small. 
There is considerable variation in the distinctness of 
the markings and the amount of reddish suffusion. 
The ege is very beautiful, about one-eightieth of an 
inch in length, pure white, cylindrical, slightly broader at 
one end, which is distinetly flattened; there are about 24 
longitudinal ribs, with numerous fine raised transverse 
lines between each rib. The eggs are deposited indiserim- 
inately and unattached. 
The larva, which is of sluggish habit, lives in silken 
tubes in the earth amongst grass roots under stones. It is 
found on the sea-coast about ten feet above high-water 
mark. Its length, when full-grown is about $~ inch, eylin- 
drical tapering towards the head. The head is bright yel- 
lowish-brown; segments 2-6 are yellowish-white, segments 
7-9 being tinged with black; the rest of the larva is whitish, 
irregularly tinged with chocolate-brown; the skin of the 
larva is velvety in appearance, the thoracic segments with 

