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304 XVIT.—THE TINEIDAE. 
freely about sunset when its white colouring makes it fairly 
conspicuous. It is very common in the upper portion of 
the Wellington Reservoir Reserve at Karori. This insect 
rests with the fore part much raised, like a Gracilaria and, 
when about to move, swings alternate antennae. 
BATRACHEDRA TRISTICTA. 
(Batrachedra tristicta, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1901, 579.) 
Two specimens of this species were taken by Mr. Mey- 
rick at Makotuku. 
The expansion of the wings is about % inch. Head, an- 
tennae, thorax, abdomen, and legs fuscous-whitish. Palpi whit- 
ish, second joint with short scale-projection, sub-basal and sub- 
apical spots of second joint, and basal and sub-apical spots of 
terminal dark fuscous. Fore-wings whitish, irrorated with fus- 
cous and sprinkled with dark fuscous; first and second discal 
stigmata elongate, black, first somewhat before middle; a round 
black apical dot: cilia very pale whitish-fuscous. Hind-wings 
grey; cilia pale whitish-fuscous. 
The perfect insect appears in March. 
I am unacquainted with this species. The above is 
a copy of the original description. 
BATRACHEDRA ARENOSELLA. 
(Gracilaria arenosella, Walk., Cat. xxx., 857; Batrachedra 
arenosella, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxi., 181.) 
(Plate XXXV., fig. 12.) 
This very frail-looking species has oceurred at Palm- 
erston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is seven-Sixteenths of an inch. 
The antennae are broadly barred with dark brown towards the 
apex. The forewings are elongate, very narrow, with veins 6 
and 7 separate; pale brownish-ochreous with numerous scattered 
dark brown dots thickest towards the costa and apex; there is 
a cloudy brown spot in the disc at two-fifths and another at four- 
fifths sometimes obsolete. The hind-wings, which have veins 2, 
3 and 5 absent, are ochreous-grey. The cilia of all the wings are 
pale greyish-ochreous. 
According to Mr. Meyrick the larva feeds amongst the 
seeds of rushes (Juncus), joining them together with a 
slight web, in August. The pupa, which is very slender, 
is enclosed in a cocoon amongst the seeds. Dr. J. G. Myers 
has observed this larva feeding on scale insects (Poliaspis 
media). 
The perfect insect appears from January till March, 
and is found in swampy places where rushes are abundant. 
Mr. Meyrick states that it is also common and generally 
distributed in Australia, which is doubtless its place of 
origin. The species is very closely allied in every way to 
the European Batrachedra pinicolella. The position as- 
sumed when at rest is the same as that of Gracilaria. 
BATRACHEDRA EUCOLA. 
(Batrachedra eucola, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxi., 180.) 
(Plate XXXIV., fig. 8.) 
This species was discovered by Mr. Meyrick at the 
Bealey River, in January, 1883. It was rediscovered by 
Mr. Philpott, at the Aorere River near Nelson, in Febru- 
ary, 1926. 
The expansion of the wings is § inch. The fore-wings are 
elongate, parallel-sided, with the apex acutely pointed slightly 
downwards; very pale brownish-ochreous with brown markings ; 
veins 6 and 7 Stalked; there are two elongate cloudy brown 
streaks, one along costa and one immediately below; a third 
much finer streak in disc; a suffused brownish spot on dorsum 
near base; two conspicuous elongate dots placed obliquely in 
disc, and a third oblique dot at about %; four minute dots in 
cilia on outer third of costa, and one at apex; rest of cilia grey 
mixed with brownish-ochreous. The hind-wings are grey, with 
the cilia before apex bright brownish-ochreous; the rest of cilia 
grey. 
Mr. Meyrick points out that this species may be eas- 
ily distinguished by its large size, very pronounced tuft of 
palpi, and full neuration of hind-wings. 
The perfect insect appears in January and February, 
but is evidently extremely rare. 
Described and figured from a specimen kindly lent to 
me by Mr. Philpott. 
BATRACHEDRA AGAURA. 
(Batrachedra agaura, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1901, 579.) 
(Plate XXXV., fig. 2 9.) 
This obscurely-marked species has occurred in many 
localities between Kaeo in the far north and Invercargill 
in the south. It is evidently generally distributed through- 
out the country. 
The expansion of the wings is about § inch. The fore- 
wings, which are very elongate parallel-sided with the apex 
rather abruptly pointed, are dull yellowish-brown thickly spec- 
kled and clouded with darker brown; there are several obscure 
dark brown marks on the fold, a rather distinct discal spot be- 
yond the middle and another beyond the end of the fold; three 
dots are situated on the costa before the apex and a small dis- 
tinct black mark on the cilia at the apex. The hind-wings are 
brownish-grey. 
There is considerable variation in the depth of the 
eround colour and markings. 
The perfect insect appears in December, and frequents 
dense forests, but although generally distributed is not a 
common species. 
BATRACHEDRA FILICICOLA. 
(Batrachedra filicicola, Meyr., Trans, N.Z. Inst., xlix., 247.) 
(Plate XL fesse 2 OF) 
This very fragile-looking insect was discovered 
amongst tree-ferns at Karori. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under % inch. The 
fore-wings are elongate-elliptical in the male, dark grey speckled 
with blackish; there are three rows of large black scales at the 
apex, the last row forming a blunt termination to the wing; the 
cilia are blackish and very long. The hind-wings are extremely 
narrow, pointed, dark grey with very long cilia. The antennae 
of the male are about three quarters the length of the fore-wings, 
rather stout, black. In the female the wings are silvery-grey 
speckled with darker; and the antennae are grey Slightly shorter 
and more slender than in the male. 
The perfect insect appears in November and Decem- 
ber, and may be swept from the fronds of the silver tree- 
fern (Cyathea dealbata), in hot sunshine. It runs fast 
and flies rapidly with short flights. It is probably on the 
wing for a brief period and hence may often escape notice. 

