






































— nn ea = Cae 8 ee te 








GRACILARIA SELENITIS. 
(Gracilaria selenitis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xli., 15.) 
(Plate XXXV., fig. 1 ¢.) 
This rather bright-looking species was discovered on 
the lower slopes of Mt. Holdsworth, Tararua Range, at 
an elevation of about 3,000 feet above the sea-level. It 
has also occurred on Mt. Arthur and is generally distri- 
buted throughout Otago and Southland. 
The expansion of the wings is under 4 inch. The fore 
wings are very elongate, narrow, with the costa strongly arched 
and the apex acute; bright golden brown, finely speckled with 
darker brown, with faint purplish reflections; there are three 
rather large pale yellow spots on the dorsum. The hind-wings 
are pale grey. 
Appears to vary somewhat in the general brilliancy 
of the colouring. A very dark form is common in the sub- 
alpine forest on Mount Arthur about 3,500 feet above sea- 
level. 
According to Mr. Morris N. Watt the larva mines the 
leaves of the silver beech (Nothofagus Menziesu.* ) 
The perfect insect appears from September till Feb- 
ruary, and in the North Island probably frequents forest- 
clad ranges at elevations of about 3,000 feet above the sea- 
level. Mr. Philpott states that in Otago it is generally dis- 
tributed in beech forests from 2,500 feet upwards and is 
met with during December, January and February. The 
species is extremely common, and when a number of them 
is disturbed from) the beech-foliage a clicking sound, 
like the pattering of raindrops, may be heard. He is un- 
able to offer any explanation as to how this sound is pro- 
duced.t 
GRACILARIA CHRYSITIS. 
(Gracilaria chrysitis, Feld. Reis. Nov., pl. cxl. 43; Meyr. Trans. 
N.Z. Inst., xxi., 183; G. adelina, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soe. 
N.S.W., 1880, 142; G. rutilans, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii., 561.) 
(Plate XXXV., fig. 10 @.) 
This very handsome species has occurred at Kaeo, 
Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Pic- 
ton, Christchurch and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 4 inch. The fore- 
wings are very deep orange-red with coppery and purplish re- 
flections; there is a very broad golden costal band; a deep 
purplish-blue discal spot before the middle and a series of 
minute blue streaks on the dorsum. The hind-wings are grey. 
The intermediate legs have the femur and tibia thickened and 
densely clothed with brilliant red scales interspersed with a few 
brilliant blue scales. 
The perfect insect appears from September till No- 
vember, and from January till April. It frequents damp 
places in the forest, but is very local, although apparently 
fairly common in the northern parts of the North Island. 
The position assumed by this species, when at rest, is 
extraordinary. The wings are closely rolled around the 
body; the antennae placed backwards along the mid-back. 
The anterior and intermediate legs are each placed close 
together tiptoe, and form with the wings, a tripod, which 
supports the insect in a position inclined at about 45 de- 

“Trans, N.Z. Inst., lv., 681, tIb. xlix., 235, 

XVIL—THE 

TINEIDAE. 
erees from the horizontal. The hind-legs and body are 
altogether hidden within the eylinder formed by the 
wings. The silver colouring on the underside of the head 
and thorax is most conspicuous, as well as the tufts of 
seales on the intermediate tibiae. These features confront 
the observer when facing ‘‘the tripod,’’ and collectively 
give the insect a most unreal appearance. 
GRACILARIA CHALCODELTA. 
(Gracilaria chatcodelta, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxi., 183.) 
(Plate XXXYV., fig. 7 @.) 
Although apparently generally distributed throughout 
the North Island this pretty species is never met with in 
any numbers. It has not been recorded from the South 
Island at present. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly over 4 inch. The 
fore-wings are very elongate and narrow with the apex long 
pointed; reddish-ochreous with strong purple reflections and 
numerous minute yellowish streaks; there is a large, somewhat 
triangular golden-yellow mark on the costa before the middle, 
and a cloudy patch of blackish scales at the apex. The hind- 
wings are grey. 
The perfect insect appears from December till March, 
and frequents forest. When settling after flight, each 
antenna is swung alternately for some little time, their ends 
describing circles. The wings are tightly closed around 
the body, their tips touching the object on which the insect 
is resting. The head is raised up, and the entire body and 
wings held at an angle of about 20 degrees. The hind-legs 
are closely appressed to the body, the tarsi being slightly 
divergent and helping to support the tip of the wings and 
the body in the position already deseribed. The fore- and 
intermediate legs are held close together, only the tips of 
the tarsi touching the support. The tibiae of the interme- 
diate legs are enlarged by a dense clothing of blackish 
seales.and this is very conspicuous when the insect is rest- 
ing. The antennae are placed backwards along the middle 
of the wings. One of the tarsi of the fore-legs is often 
held clear of the ground and vibrated with the antennae. 
Sub-family 13.—PLUTELLIDES. 
Head usually with appressed scales. Labial palpi bent, 
ascending, pointed, terminal joint as long as second or longer. 
Maxillary palpi rather short, filiform, porrected. Fore-wings 
with vein 7 and 8 separate or stalked. Hind-wings trapezoidal- 
ovate or elongate-ovate. (Plate A., figs. 7-9; Plate G., figs. 31, 
32, 338; Plate H., figs. 30-38 and 42-44). 
A small sub-family of considerable antiquity. Nine 
genera are represented in New Zealand. 
1. THAMBOTRICHA. 5. PHYLACODES. 
2. DOLICHERNIS. 6. CADMOGENES. 
3. DOXOPHYRTIS. 7. ORTHENCHHES. 
4, PROTOSYNAEMA. 8. PLUTELLA. 
9. CIRCOXENA. 
Genus 1—THAMBOTRICHA, Meyr. 
Head with appressed scales; ocelli posterior; tongue de- 
veloped. Antennae five-sixths, in @ slender, joints elongate, 
with spreading whorls of extremely long fine ciliations, basal 
