












Ea hh le A i ie 















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OS ie ee Se Se a. 













Most of the insects comprised in this genus appear 
during the latter end of summer, and closely imitate fallen 
leaves, a frequent habit of resting on the ground increasing 
the value of the protective resemblance. In several of 
the species the differences between the sexes are much 
ereater than is usual amongst this group of Lepidoptera. 
The larvae generally feed in the dead branches of trees 
during the winter and early spring, pupation usually tak- 
ing place in early summer. 
There are fifteen species known in New Zealand and, 
as yet, the genus has not occurred in any other country. 
Of these two are confined to the North Island, seven to 
the South Island, and six common to both islands.* 
GYMNOBATHRA PHILADELPHA. 
(Gymnobathra philadelpha, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 33.) 
Two specimens of this species were discovered by Fere- 
day on Mount Hutt. 
The expansion of the wings of the female is 1 inch. The 
fore-wings are sub-faleate, grey, somewhat mixed with ochreous- 
whitish: cilia with basal half grey, terminal half ochreous-whit- 
ish. Hind-wings grey-whitish, apex somewhat suffused with light 
grey; cilia whitish, round apex greyish-tinged. 
Very similar in form to Gymnobathra hyetodes, but 
differing from both sexes in the grey fore-wings, the ab- 
sence of markings, and the whitish hind-wings. It is prob- 
able that the male may have some points of difference from 
the female. 
The perfect insect appears in January. 
~ Iam unacquainted with this species. The above par- 
ticulars are taken from the original description. 
GYMNOBATHRA HYETODES. 
(Gymnobathra hyetodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 32.) 
(QE EWRY D.O,O,95 Tie, aM Ne AP Xe) 5) 
This interesting species has occurred at Swanson and 
in the neighbourhood of Wellington. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is nearly ? inch, 
of the female 1 inch. The fore-wings of the male are dark grey- 
ishrochreous with the apical third much paler; there is a con- 
spicuous, strongly curved shaded transverse band of blackish- 
grey dividing the darker and lighter areas; two very minute dis- 
cal dots at 4 and a larger dot at #; the costa is slightly shaded 
with reddish-brown. The hind-wings are dark grey. The female 
is very bright ochreous with a curved brownish-ochreous trans- 
verse band at % containing a darker brown discal dot; the costa 
is edged with brownish-ochreous. The hind-wings are bright 
ochreous very slightly tinged with reddish-brown near the apex. 
In both sexes the apex of the fore-wings is slightly falcate. 
The perfect insect appears in February, and frequents 
dense forests, where it is sometimes fairly common. Its 
colouring is undoubtedly imitative of dead leaves, espe- 
cially in the female. Both sexes very frequently rest on 
the ground, with closed wings, and this habit increases the 
value of the protective colouring. The sexual disparities 
exhibited by this species are strongly marked and very un- 

*An article by Mr. Philpott on the Genitalia of the mem- 
bers of the genus Gymnobathra appears in the Transactions of 
the New Zealand Institute, vol. lvii., pp. 716-721. 


4 XVI:—_THE TINEIDAE. 
usual in the group. Seeing that neither sex appears to be 
coloured for ornamental purposes, the peculiarities of the 
female, which is a very sluggish insect, must be attributed 
‘to the need for special protection, whilst she is depositing 
her eggs. 
GYMNOBATHRA HABROPIS. 
(Gymnobathra habropis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 80.) 
(Plate XXX., fig. 10 ¢@.) 
This delicate-looking species has occurred at Nelson 
and Dunedin. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under 1 inch. The 
fore-wings, which hdve the apex very pointed and the termen 
strongly concave and oblique, are pale yellowish-ochreous with 
faint grey markings; there are two discal dots before the mid- 
dle and one beyond the middle; a dusky shading at the base of 
the costa and on the apex and termen. The hind-wings are white 
with the cilia tinged with grey near the apex. The antennae 
and fore-legs are brownish-black with white rings. There is 
sometimes a dusky shading round the outer discal dot. 
The perfect insect appears from November till March 
and frequents forests. It seems to be rather a rare spe- 
cies, and at present has only been recorded from the South 
Island. 
GYMNOBATHRA HAMATELLA. 
(Oecophora hamatella, Walk., Cot., xxix., 700; Gymnobathra 
hamatella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 31.) 
GENUS, OO, gas UG) eM] ls) 
This rather distinctly-marked species has occurred at 
Wellington, Nelson, Takaka, Christchurch and Akaroa. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is slightly over 
8 inch, of the female slightly over # inch. The fore-wings of 
the male are very pale ochreous with dull brown markings; 
there is an oblique transverse band from 4 of the costa to about 
4 of the dorsum; a small discal dot before the middle; a much 
broader, very irregular wedge-shaped, transverse band from % 
of the costa to near the tornus; this band contains a darker 
elongate discal spot, followed by a patch of the pale ground- 
colour; there is a very indistinct terminal series of elongate 
marks; the costa is narrowly edged with brown and the cilia 
are dark brown. The hind-wings are pale grey with darker grey 
lunule and cilia. In the female the markings are rather bright 
yellowish-brown and the hind-wings very pale ochreous. The 
apex of the fore-wings is slightly faleate in both sexes. Occa- 
sionally the paler portions are more or less speckled with brown. 
The perfect insect appears in February and March. It 
is usually found in gardens, or other cultivated places, and 
is sometimes attracted by light but, generally speaking, is 
not a common species. 
GYMNOBATHRA CENCHRIAS. 
(Borkhausenia cenchrias, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xli., 13.) 
(Plate XXIX., fig. 30 @.) 
This distinct species was discovered by Mr. Philpott at 
Invereargill. It has also occurred at Dean’s Bush, near 
Christchurch. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over § inch. The 
fore-wings, which are elongate with the apex and termen som*- 
what rounded, are pale brownish-ochreous with brown markings; 

