





























aa 






—————— 


















GYMNOBATHRA PARCA. 
(Oecophora parca, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 405; Gym- 
nobathra parca, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 29; Oeco- 
phora limbata, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii., 560 [1880]) 
(Plate XXX., figs. 1, 2 @ varieties.) 
This rather dull-looking variable species has occurred 
at Christchurch, Castle Hill, Lake Wakatipu and Inverear- 
eill. It is probably generally distributed throughout the 
South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is 2 inch. The fore-wings vary 
from very dark yellowish-brown to dull ochreous; there are 
usually obscure cloudy discal spots at 4 and %, and sometimes an 
oblique mark on the fold. The hind-wings are dark grey, slightly 
paler towards the base. 
The perfect insect appears from December till March. 
It frequents open grassy hills and seems to be commonest 
in somewhat elevated situations. It is extremely abundant 
at Castle Hill, at an altitude of about 2,500 feet, and is 
also found on the ranges around Lake Wakatipu to eleva- 
tions of about 4,000 feet. 
GYMNOBATHRA CALLIPLOCA. 
(Gymnobathra calliploca, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 30.) 
(HEN BOLO, ile, G) A5)) 
This very distinetly-marked species has occurred at 
Wellington, Otira River, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu and 
Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 3 inch. The 
fore-wings, which have the apex slightly rounded, are pale 
brownish-ochreous with a very few scattered grey scales; there 
are five very distinct black dots on the outer half of the costa, 
three discal dots forming a rather elongate triangle near the 
middle of the wing, and a terminal series of obscure dusky 
marks; the terminal area is usually more densely speckled with 
grey than the rest of the wing. The hind-wings are very pale 
grey with a darker grey discal dot and apical shading. 
Some specimens are slightly darker than others, but 
beyond this there is no important variation. 
The perfect insect appears from December till Febru- 
ary, and frequents dense forests. It is rather a rare spe- 
cies near Wellington, and, as a rule, only one or two speci- 
mens are observed in the course of a season, but according 
to Mr. Philpott, it is quite common in the neighbourhood 
of Invercargill. 
GYMNOBATHRA BRYAULA. 
(Gymnobathra bryaula, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond., 1905, 238.) 
(Plate XXX”, fig. 22 4, 28 9: Plate Ill. fis, 7 larva.) 
This pretty species has occurred at Wellington. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is slightly 
under { inch, of the female slightly over 4% inch. The 
fore-wings of the male are _ vyellowish-green speckled with 
black, and with black markings; there are two small black 
spots at the base; a small double spot near the base in the 
middle; three oblique discal spots before the middle; a dumbell- 
shaped mark in the disc beyond the middle; two small spots 
above the tornus; a deeply-indented broken transverse line from 
the costa before the apex to the tornus; a series of double dots 
on the costa and a series of single spots on the termen. The 

76 XVII—THE TINEIDAE. 
hind-wings are greyish-ochreous, with a series of black dots on 
the cilia. In the female the forewings «are rather dull orange- 
brown, with similar black markings to the male, but both fore- 
and hind-wings are somewhat narrower. 
The larva inhabits dead branches of the common fuch- 
sia (Fuchsia excorticata), drilling numerous burrows 
through the solid wood on which it feeds. It lives through 
the winter and is full-grown about October. At this time 
its length is about # inch; it is slender, elongate, cylindrical 
and of almost uniform thickness; its general colour is red- 
dish-brown, very strongly tinged with purple, and of a 
velvety appearance. The head is dark reddish-brown and 
shining; the second segment paler; the third with two 
horny plates; each of the remaining segments has, towards 
its posterior edge, four large blackish warts, each wart 
emitting a bristle; the last segment is yellowish-brown and 
horny. This larva is very active, darting backwards and 
forwards with great agility when disturbed. The pupa 
state is spent in one of the burrows made by the larva. 
The perfect insect appears during the first week in 
January and is usually over before the end of the month. 
It is invariably found resting on tree trunks and seems very 
unwilling to fly. The colouring of the male is highly pro- 
tective amongst moss, that of the female apparently imi- 
tates the bark of the fuchsia, and this no doubt effectively 
protects her from enemies whilst she is engaged in deposit- 
ing her eggs. The disparity between the sexes is remark- 
able, and judging by the much greater apparent rarity of 
the female, her means of concealment must be superior to 
that of the male. 
GYMNOBATHRA THETODES.. 
(Gymnobathra thetodes, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1901, 574.) 
(Plate XXX., fig. 24 @.) 
This very dull-looking species has occurred on the 
Lyttelton Hills and at Akaroa. 
The expansion of the wings is # inch. The fore-wings are 
elongate-oblong with the termen slightly rounded; pale brown 
with obscure darker brown markings; there is a small spot on 
the costa at the base and another on the dorsum; two discal spots 
at 4 and one at 3; an ill-defined cloudy streak in the dise from 
4 to the termen; an obscure series of elongate sub-terminal and 
terminal spots; the entire wing is also irregularly dotted with 
dark brown seales. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, thickly 
strewn with pale brown scales. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Janu- 
ary. 
Described and figured from a specimen in the Fere- 
day collection. 
GYMNOBATHRA THOLODELLA. 
(Gymnobathra tholodella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 30.) 
(Plate XXX., fig. 3 @.) 
This very dull-looking little species appears to be 
common and generally distributed throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under § inch. The 
fore-wings are pale ochreous-brown thickly speckled with black- 
ish-grey; there is a cloudy blackish-grey discal spot at 4 and a 

