




















































a= 


280 AVIU—THE 
a slender angulated line from 4 of costa to the disc before 
middle, continued as a broken line almost to the dorsum; an 
ill-defined brownish patch on the dorsum near the middle and a 
similar round patch above the tornus; an angulated dark brown 
mark in the dise beyond the middle; a short oblique streak from 
the apex and a series of marginal spots from % of the costa 
along the termen to the tornus. The hind-wings are ochreous- 
grey with a very obscure discal dot. 
The perfect insect appears in November and Decem- 
ber. It is occasionally found resting on fences in the town 
of Wellington, and at present does not seem to have been 
observed in any other locality. 
IZATHA CAUSTOPA. 
(Semiocosma caustopa, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxiv., 219.) 
(Plate XXV., fig. 74a) 12)5)) 
This large and rather conspicuous species has occurred 
in the neighbourhood of Wellington. 
The expansion of the wings varies from slightly under 1 
inch to 14 inches. The fore-wings are pale brownish-ochreous 
with the central portions strongly clouded with rich chocolate 
brown; there is a black longitudinal streak from the dise near 
the middle almost reaching the termen below the apex; this 
streak traverses a conspicuous black spot near its origin, and 
is doubled for a short distance before its termination; a broad 
pale brown marginal band extends from considerably before the 
apex to the tornus, the spaces between the veins being clouded 
with darker brown; there is a rather indistinct series of mar- 
ginal dots. The hind-wings are pale ochreous slightly clouded 
with brown towards the apex and termen. 
The larva, which closely resembles that of [zatha attac- 
tella, feeds during the winter months in the dead branches 
of the common fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata), driving bur- 
rows through the soft wood in all directions. It is full- 
grown about October. 
The perfect insect appears towards the end of Decem- 
ber and is seldom observed later than the middle of Janu- 
ary. It is extremely local, apparently being confined to 
certain patches of fuchsia trees, where one or two speci- 
mens may, perhaps, be taken for several successive seasons. 
When resting with closed wings this insect closely resem- 
bles the dark patches on the pale brown bark of the fuchsia 
and on several oceasions I have found recently emerged 
specimens at rest on the stems of the fuchsia. 
IZATHA ATTACTELLA. 
(lzatha attactella, Walk., Cat., xxix., 787; Semiocosma platyptera, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xx., 80.) 
(Plate XXV., fig. 30 4, 31 9.) 
This species, which is one of the largest of the genus, 
has occurred at Ohakune, Palmerston North and at Well- 
ington. ; 
The expansion of the wings of the male is nearly 14 inches, 
of the female 1% inches. The fore-wings of the male are white, 
rather densely sprinkled with brown dots, the markings are also 
brown; there are two indistinct, broken, transverse lines near 
the base; a longitudinal black streak from the base to the disc 
at 4; the terminal area is rather indefinitely mottled with brown; 
there is a cloudy triangular patch on the costa just before the 
apex containing several small dark marks and a rather distinct 

TINEIDAE. 
series of terminal dots. The hind-wings are pale ochreous. In 
the female the fore-wings are very densely speckled with dull 
reddish-brown and, with the exception of the basal longitudinal 
streak, the markings are very indistinct. The hind-wings of the 
female are pale ochreous-brown. 
The larva lives under the bark of dead hinau trees 
(Elaeocarpus dentatus) and also under the bark of dead 
wineberry (Aristotelia racemosa) ; beech (Nothofagus) as 
well as in the dead stems of the ngaio (Myoporwm laetum), 
the nikau palm (Rhopalostylis sapida), and probably many 
other trees. It feeds during the whole of the winter, eating 
the soft inner surface of the bark, but often leaving the 
solid wood untouched. When full-grown its length is about 
£ inch. The body is elongate, slightly flattened, with the 
anterior portions rather stouter; the head is dark brown 
and shining; the second segment horny with a dorsal fur- 
row; the third segment with two rounded triangular dor- 
sal plates, not meeting on the back; the remaining segments 
except the last are soft, ochreous-white with three horny 
warts on each side, each wart emitting rather long bristles; 
the last segment has a horny dorsal plate; the head and 
other horny portions of the larva are also furnished with 
numerous bristles. 
The pupa is pale ochreous, tinged with brown on the 
head and towards the posterior extremity; there are six 
rows of dorsal spines and the cremaster is blunt, furnished 
with several short thick processes. It is enclosed in an 
oval cocoon, constructed of silk and fragments of wood, 
situated under the bark. The larva is generally full 
erown about September, and the pupa state lasts for a 
month or six weeks. 
? 
The perfect insect appears from September until 
December, but is rarely seen. Larvae and pupae may, how- 
ever, be found plentifully in the dead trees mentioned, and 
are easily reared in captivity. ‘i 
IZATHA COPIOSELLA. 
(Gelechia copiosella, Walk., Cat., xxx., 1028.) 
(Plate 2CXV., fe.926 4: 27 92) 
This dull-looking species, which is the largest of the 
genus at present known, has occurred at Waimarino, Rau- 
rimu and Ohakune. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 14 inches, of the 
female 14 inches. The fore-wings are oblong, rather broad, 
especially in the male, with the termen slightly oblique; dull 
reddish-brown with indistinct dark purplish-brown or blackish 
markings; there is an interrupted streak along the fold; two 
broad bars on the costa near the base; a broad cloudy transverse 
band at about $ partly encircling a faint discal spot; a fine bro- 
ken sub-terminal line and a series of costal and terminal dots. 
The hind-wings are dark grey. The female is considerably 
larger and paler in colour with the markings less distinct and 
the hind-wings greyish-ochreous in place of dark grey. In gen- 
eral appearance both sexes somewhat resemble the female of 
Tzatha attactella. 
The perfect insect appears in January, and is found 
in forests. Its colouring is highly protective when resting 
on tree-trunks. 
