XVIT—THE TINEIDAE. 317 
GLYPHIPTERYX ERASTIS. 
(Glyphipteryx erastis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliii., 76.) 
(Plate XXXIV., fig. 20 9.) 
This exquisite little insect is common in the neigh- 
bourhood of Wellington. It has also occurred at Waima- 
rino, Christchurch, Castle Hill and Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is five-sixteenths of an inch. 
The fore-wings have a prominent lobe at the apex, the termen 
oblique and the tornus strongly rounded; golden-ochreous 
clouded with grey towards the base; there is an irregular whit- 
ish patch near the base; a wedge-shaped cream-coloured mark 
on the costa at about 4; two broad silvery-white transverse 
bands near the middle, followed by an oblong patch of dark 
grey and white scales; a small black spot and a violet-silvery- 
metallic dot are situated in the apical lobe; a large oblong 
black spot at the tornus, containing three violet-silvery-metallic 
dots. The hind-wings are grey, with bronzy reflections, 
There is considerable variation in the depth of the 
ground colouring, and in the intensity of the markings. 
The perfect insect appears during hot sunny days 
from November till March, but is commonest in December 
and January. It usually frequents open places near scrub, 
or forest, and is often found in gardens, not infrequently 
entering houses, where it may be seen on the window 
panes. It flies most freely in the late afternoon, when it 
is sometimes observed pairing. 
GLYPHIPTERYX TRISELENA. 
(Glyphipteryx triselena, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1880, 
234; ibid., 1882, 188.) 
(Plate XXXIV., fig. 6 9.) 
This very clearly-marked, fragile-looking species has 
occurred at Christchurch, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu and 
at Wallacetown near Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is seven-sixteenths of an inch. 
The fore-wings are rather elongate with the apex moderately 
pointed and the termen obliquely-rounded; pale golden-orange- 
yellow; there are three silvery-metallic stripes crossing the 
wing, the first at 4, the second before the middle and the third 
slightly before 2; beyond the third stripe there is a large white 
patch traversed by several rows of minute, dark grey dots; an 
elongate, bent black band is situated at the tornus, containing 
four silvery-metallic spots and a small patch of the golden-yellow 
ground colour at the apex, traversed by a fine silvery-metallic 
band. The hind-wings are very pale greyish-white. 
The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
and is found in open grassy places. It is extremely local. 
Deseribed and figured from a specimen kindly given 
to me by Mr. Philpott. 
GLYPHIPTERYX BARBATA. 
(Glyphipteryx barbata, Philp. Trans. N.Z. Inst. 1., 130.) 
(Plate XXXVIIL., fig. 13 ¢@.) 
This large, robust-looking species was discovered by 
Mr. C. HE. Clarke at Waitati near Dunedin. 
The expansion of the wings is # inch. The palpi are 
thickly clothed with long greyish-white hairs. The fore-wings 
are elliptical with the apex very pointed, terminating in a small, 
but very distinct lobe. All the wings are deep ochreous-grey. 
The fore-wings have a broad suffused longitudinal silvery-white 
Streak from the base to the termen below the apex; there are 
three blackish bars on the costa close to the apex, with whitish 
interspaces. The cilia are greyish-white, tipped with blackish 
near the apex of the fore-wings; there is a ring of dark cilia 
around the apical lobe, and a distinct projecting tuft over the 
apex. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Janu- 
ary, and frequents hills at about 1,000 feet above sea- 
level. It is attached to tussocks, but is a very local spe- 
cles. 
Genus 8—CHARIXENA, Meyr. 
Head with appressed seales; ocelli absent; tongue absent. 
Antennae $,in @ moderately ciliated, joints about 26 in number, 
rather elongate, with slightly expanded whorls of scales, basal 
half of stalk thickened with rough scales, more strongly towards 
base, basal joint short, stout, thickened with dense scales pro- 
jecting on anterior edge. Labial palpi extremely small, rudi- 
mentary. Maxillary palpi absent. Posterior tibiae with ap- 
pressed scales. Fore-wings with vein 1b furcate, 2 from to- 
wards angle, 3 from angle, 4 and 5 approximated at base, 7 to 
termen, 8 and 9 approximated at base, 11 from middle. Hind- 
wings somewhat under 1, elongate-ovate, cilia 3; 3 and 4 some- 
what approximated towards base, 5 tolerably parallel, 6 and 7 
somewhat approximated towards base, transverse vein rather 
strongly oblique. 
A very remarkable genus. On the neural and anten- 
nal characters I can only regard it as belonging to this 
sub-family, but it differs widely from all the other New 
Zealand genera in the minute labial palpi, which are only 
pereeived with difficulty. It has, however, many points of 
resemblance to the Australian genus Cebysa, in which the 
labial palpi are very short, and there seems to be a true 
relationship. (Meyrick.) 
Only one species is known at present. 
CHARIXENA IRIDOXA. 
(Philpottia iridoxa, Meyr., Trans, N.Z. Inst., xlviii., 417.) 
(Plate XXXVII., fig. 16 @.) 
This very handsome species was discovered by Mr. 
Philpott on Mount Burns, Hunter Mountains, on Decem- 
ber 29, 1914, at an elevation of about 3,200 feet above the 
sea-level. Since that time mined leaves of Astelia Cock- 
aynet, the work of its larva, have been observed by Mr. 
Morris N. Watt on Mounts Egmont and Ruapehu in the 
North Island; and in the South Island by Mr. Philpott on 
Mount Arthur, by Mr. C. E. Clarke on many mountains in 
Otago, and by Mr. Fenwick on the track between Lake Te 
Anau and Milford Sound. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 4 inch. The 
antennaé are rather short, very heavily scaled. The fore-wings 
are rather broad with the termen obliquely rounded; glistening 
bronzy-bluish-purple with very pale golden-ochreous markings; 
there is an elongate triangular bar on the dorsum near the 
base, not reaching the costa; a curved transverse bar before the 
middle, broadest on the dorsum; two large spots on the costa 
before the apex and one near the tornus. The hind-wings are 
pale grey, finely speckled with darker, especially in the male. 
For the extremely interesting particulars of the life 
history of this species, which follow, we are indebted to 


