





et EF 
a PTE a 
296 XVII.—THE 
down the stems and eating the pith, and making many 
small holes in the sides; found throughout June. 
The perfect insect appears in June, July and August, 
but is rarely seen at large, although bred freely from the 
seed-heads. This species also occurs in New South Wales 
and must be regarded as an immigrant from Australia. 
(Meyrick). 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen in the Fereday 
collection. 
Genus 2—AGRIOPHARA, Ros. 
Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 separate, 7 to apex. (Plate 
G., figs. 37, 38, 39 neuration and head of Agriophara coricopa.) 
This genus, which is represented in New Zealand by 
one species only, includes a moderate number of Austra- 
lian and Indian species. 
AGRIOPHARA CORICOPA. 
(Hypeuryntis coricopa, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1897, 389.) 
(Plate XXV., figs. 11, 12 varieties; Plate III., 
fig. 15 larva.) 
This rather large species has occurred fairly com- 
monly in the Wellington District and has also been found 
at Otira and Dunedin. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore- 
wings have the costa almost straight and the termen slightly 
oblique; pale greyish-ochreous, very thinly sprinkled with a few 
brown scales; there is an indistinct oblique series of blackish 
dots from the costa at about 4; several obscure costal dots 
beyond this; a conspicuous discal spot beyond the middle and a 
curved series of sub-terminal dots. The hind-wings are rather 
broad, almost white. The antennae in the male are furnished 
with very long cilia. ; 
A variety occurs in which the fore-wings are very pale 
ereenish-ochreous with a wide brown streak from the base 
to the apex, broadest in the middle, the other markings 
being similar to those in the type. 
The larva is about $ inch in length, rather stout, taper- 
ing at each end. The head is brown with three broad 
darker brown bands; the second segment is pale brown and 
horny; the rest of the body creamy white with three dark 
brown dorsal stripes; each segment has eight dark brownish 
or black warts generally surmounted by a fine yellowish 
bristle. It feeds in November and December on the 
flowers and green upper surface of the leaves of Olearia 
Cunningham, also between joined leaves of the ake ake 
(Olearia Forstert) and on the flowers and leaves of Olearia 
Solandri. 
The pupa is very stout, about five-sixteenths of an 
inch long, reddish-brown, or dark mahogany-brown. It 
is enclosed in a loose silken cocoon amongst the old flowers, 
or half eaten leaves. 
The perfect insect frequents scrub. It has been taken 
in August, September and October, but is usually found 
in January, although stragglers occasionally occur in the 
late autumn, or early winter. It is therefore probable that 
the species hybernates in the imago state. 

TINEIDAE. 
Sub-family 5.—CoPROMORPHIDES. 
Labial palpi long or very long, thickened with scales, ter- 
minal joint more or less obtuse. Fore-wings with tufts of scales 
on surface, vein 7 separate, to termen. Hind-wings veins 3 and 
4 connate, 5-7 nearly parallel. (Plate F., 19-21 and Plate A., 
figs. 17-19.) 
This small sub-family, whose position is somewhat 
doubtful, is represented in New Zealand by two genera. 
1. PHYCOMORPHA. 2. ISONOMBEUTIS. 
Genus 1—PHYCOMORPHA, Meyr. 
Head with loosely appressed scales; tongue short; ocelli 
absent. Antennae #, in ¢ with strong flat dentations, basal 
joint moderate without pecten. Labial palpi long, curved, 
obliquely. ascending, second joint much thickened with dense 
scales, roughly expanded on posterior half above and slightly 
rough beneath, terminal 34-2? of second, cylindrical, hardly 
pointed. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax with posterior crest. 
Posterior tibiae with appressed scales or Slightly roughened 
above. Fore-wings with tufts of scales on surface; 10 furcate, 
2 from towards angle, 3-5 approximated, 7 to termen, 8 and 9 
stalked, 11 from middle. Hind-wings over 1, subovate, cilia 4-4; 
lower margin of cell with basal pecten of hairs, 3 and 4 connate 
or short-staiked, 5 somewhat approximated towards base, 6 and 
7 parallel. (Plate F., figs. 19, 20, 21 mneuration head and 
antenna of Phycomorpha metachrysa @.) 
One species occurs in New Zealand and another in 
Australia. 
PHYCOMORPHA METACHRYSA. 
(Phycomorpha metachrysd, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvi., 106.) 
(Plate XXVL., fig. 43 @.) 
This very remarkable and interesting species was dis- 
covered by Mr. G. W. Howes at Dunedin. It has also 
occurred at Gollan’s Valley, near Wellington, and at the 
head of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is ? inch. The fore-wings are 
rather dilated towards termen; purplish-brown, sprinkled with 
blackish, tips of scales golden-metallic; there is a series of short 
black marks on the costa near the base; a very large, sometimes 
conspicuous, irregular blotch on the outer portion of the disc, 
the lower part pale green, the upper pale brown; around this 
blotch there are often several very irregular black marks. The 
hind-wings are grey. 
There is considerable variation. In some specimens 
the fore-wings are more or less suffused with dull olive 
green; in others there is a very large creamy-white blotch 
on the dorsum reaching more than half-way. across the 
wing; in many the outer discal blotch is not nearly so dis- 
tinct as it is indicated in the figure here given. The tufts 
of scales on the fore-wings and the peculiar structure of 
the antennae will, however, usually enable the species to 
be recognised without difficulty. 
The perfect insect appears from October till April, 
and may be looked for in forest, but is by no means com- 
mon. 
Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Phil- 
pott’s collection, prior to the discovery of the insect near 
Wellington. 












































