AVII—THE 
larger spot at %, a third oblique spot being sometimes situated on 
the fold. The hind-wings are dark greyish-ochreous. The cilia 
of all the wings are pale ochreous with a dusky line. 
There is much variation in the density of the blackish- 
erey speckling on the fore-wings, as well as in the depth 
of the colouring of the hind-wings. In the paler forms the 
darker colouring is chiefly confined to the outer portions 
of the fore-wings, the basal and central areas being usually 
paler. In the darker varieties the pale ochreous cilia are 
very conspicuous. 
The perfect insect appears from the end of January 
until the end of March, and frequents forests, where it 
is often very abundant. It is specially characteristic of 
the late summer and autumn, and its dull tints afford it 
excellent concealment amonest the dried and faded vege- 
tation prevalent at that season. When resting the wings 
are tightly closed and wrapped around the body; the head 
is raised, the anterior and middle legs slightly extended, 
and the hind-wings invisible; the antennae are placed back- 
wards along the midback, and in contact towards their tips. 
GYMNOBATHRA OMPHALOTA. 
(Gymnobathra omphalota, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 81.) 
(Plate OC, fsa 25) 4),, 201-2) 
This very active sun-loving species has occurred at 
Ohakune, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Buller and 
Otira Rivers, Christchurch, Lake Wakatipu, and Inverear- 
gill, and is probably common and generally distributed 
throughout the country. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 4 inch. The 
fore-wings of the male are dull black, with the basal three-quar- 
ters irregularly sprinkled with white and dull yellow scales; 
there are two rather large discal spots at 4, obscurely margined 
with dull yellow; a white mark on the costa at 4; a large irre- 
gular black-edged reniform spot at 3; a conspicuous wavy white 
transverse line from % of the costa to the tornus,; there is an 
almost clear black terminal area, with two terminal rows of 
white and dull yellow dots, and a small bronzy yellow patch on 
the cilia at the tornus. The hind-wings are blackish-grey, with 
a darker discal dot. The female has the entire ground colour 
very much paler, but otherwise resembles the male. 
The larva, which feeds in the bark of living Notho- 
panax trees, during the winter and early spring, is about 
$ inch in length, slender, cylindrical, with the skin much 
wrinkled. The head and second segment are dull yellow- 
ish-brown and horny, the second segment being narrowly 
edged with dull white in front. The rest of the body is 
dull grey; all the segments are clothed with numerous 
rather long bristles; there are two rows of dark grey warts 
down the back. 
The perfect insect appears from the beginning of 
November until the end of December. It flies with great 
agility in sunny glades in the forest and is consequently 
difficult to capture. In fact its black colouring and rapid 
movements baffle the eye of the pursuer, and no doubt pre- 
serve it from destruction by many enemies. This insect 
appears in the early summer, and it is therefore very inter- 
esting to find that the protective ‘‘ autumnal ’’ tints charac- 
TINEIDAE, Zt 
teristic of most of the other members of the genus, are 
here replaced by more seasonable, but equally effective, 
methods of protection. 
GYMNOBATHRA SQUAMBA. 
(Gymnobathra squamed, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvii., 200.) 
(Plate XXX., fic, 13° 2.) 
This very distinct little species was discovered by Mr. 
Philpott on Mount Cleughearn, near Lake Monowai, at an 
altitude of about 3,500 feet above the sea-level. Mr. C. E. 
Clarke has taken it on the Kepler Mountains, near Lake 
Te Anau. 
The expansion of the wings is nearly 4 inch. The fore- 
wings are oblong with the termen nearly straight; dark blackish- 
brown very thickly strewn with deep yellow hair-like scales. The 
hind-wings are dark blackish-grey, paler near the base. The cilia 
of all the wings are pale grey. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and is found 
on open country at high elevations. 
Described and figured from the type specimen in Mr. 
Philpott’s collection. 
Genus 10—AOCHLETA, Meyr. 
Basal joint of antennae without pecten. Second joint of 
labial palpi with rough projecting scales towards apex beneath. 
Fore-wings with 2 remote from angle. Hind-wings trapezoidal- 
ovate. 
This endemic genus is represented by one species only. 
AOCHLETA PSYCHRA. 
(Aochleta psychia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., 21.) 
This species was discovered at Castle Hill by J. D. 
Enys. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is about { inch. 
The fore-wings are elongate, slightly dilated, whitish, irregularly 
irrorated with grey and fuscous scales; these tend to form suf- 
fused markings, a spot on middle of dorsum, another above tor- 
nus, a narrow suffusion along posterior half of costa, and an 
apieal patch; a small cloudy darker spot towards termen in mid- 
dle; a minute black dot in dise at 4, another slightly above it 
in middle, and a very small blackish ocellus in dise at 3: cilia 
whitish with two cloudy grey lines. Hind-wings whitish. 
Not closely resembling any other species. 
I am unacquainted with this insect. The above par- 
ticulars have been taken from the original description. 
Genus 11.—IZATHA, Walk. 
Basal joint of antennae without pecten. Terminal joint of 
labial palpi with median scale-projection posteriorly. Fore-wings 
with tufts of scales; 2 remote from angle. Hind-wings trapezoi- 
dal-ovate, 5 bent and approximated to 4 at base. (Plate G., figs. 
25, 26, 27 neuration and head of Izatha peroneanella.) 
This very interesting endemic genus is principally dis- 
tinguished by the possession of a charactertistic tuft of 
seales on the middle of the terminal joint of the palpi; the 
peculiar tufts of raised scales on the fore-wings and the 
approximation of veins 4 and 5 of the hind-wings, vein 5 
being very distinctly bent. Most of the species imitate 
Wi 
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